Employee Drug Testing: The Benefits of a Drug-Free Workplace

With legal marijuana use laws continuing to make traction throughout the U.S., and the perception of a dwindling job applicant pool, some employers are asking if they should continue to conduct screening for marijuana. Some employers are also challenging the entire idea of performing drug testing in their workplaces.  Is there still a benefit to having a drug-free workplace program?

In short, the answer is, “YES!”  Why? Because the risks of not testing are real. There is no mystery why this is so, look at the latest statistics:

• • Quest Diagnostics reports that the drug positivity rate is at its highest in a decade.[1]
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 72,000 people died in the U.S. in 2017, 67.8% of those from opioids.[2]
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that overdose deaths at work increased by 25%.[3]
  • Nearly seven in 10 Americans used drugs while they were working.[4]
  • The National Safety Council reports that the opioid crisis impacts 70% of U.S. employers.[5]

 

* 76% are not offering training on how to identify signs of misuse

* 81% lack a comprehensive drug-free workplace policy

* 41% of those who drug test all employees are not testing for synthetic opioids

 

Since the 1980s, when drug testing first became widely used in our nation’s workplaces the value of drug testing has been hotly debated. Indeed, no reasonable thinking person would condone illegal drug use in the workplace; likewise, no one could deny that illicit drug use occurs at work or that off-duty use of prohibited drugs has an impact at work.

Today, the legal use of marijuana for either medical or adult-use has employers asking once again if drug testing should be continued. Nearly all states in the U.S. permit some form of legalized use of marijuana.[6] With more access to “drugs of abuse,” it would seem like a no-brainer to conduct testing, but with the complications in establishing and maintaining a drug-free workplace, how do you measure the value of a drug and alcohol testing program in your workplace?

The answer will vary for each company.

 

The value of testing

For as long as there has been drug testing in the United States workplace, there have been those asking if it’s worth it.[7]  Without getting too philosophical, each employer needs to decide what “it” is.  What does the company expect from a drug and alcohol testing program? Some goals to consider are:

1. 1. Do you intend to improve the health of your employees?
   2. Do you hope to improve and maintain the safety of your workplace?
   3. Do you want/need to reduce your worker’s compensation liability?
   4. Do you wish to avoid potential liability?

 

These are all legitimate and valuable goals of any workplace drug testing program. When done correctly, the privacy concerns of employees, the accuracy of the test methods used, and the return on your investment can be recognized.

 

How do we know if our program is meeting our goals?

To achieve your company’s drug prevention goals, you must have a complete, compliant, and balanced program. It is critical to instill confidence in any drug and alcohol testing program.

To do so, a testing program should have the following:

(1) a clear and comprehensive policy;

(2) secure collection;

(3) chain-of-custody procedures;

(4) retained positive samples;

(5) an initial screening test;

(6) a sophisticated confirmatory test;

(7) a medical review officer;

(8) a retest of retained positive samples in disputed cases; and

(9) a system of quality control.

The foundation of any workplace drug testing program is a combination of the company’s policy and its implementation procedures.  The policy must consider the who, what, where, when, and how of testing along with the consequences of any violation of the policy. Carefully consider the following:

Who will be tested?  Will you test all employees? Do you have employees whose functions are regulated by a federal or state agency?  Are there state laws that specify who you may test? Are any of your employees represented by a collective bargaining agent (Union)?

What substances will you test?  Will you conduct the industry-standard 5-panel or a 10-panel, or others?  Do state laws impact what substances you can screen? Should you drop marijuana from the panel of drugs? Nearly five years after the use of marijuana became legal in Colorado, a survey conducted by Mountain States Employers Council found that almost 70% of the 609 employers responding performed drug testing and nearly all tested for marijuana.[8] It was found that:

• • 3% removed marijuana from their list of drugs tested;
  • 4% relaxed their policies (consequences) as it related to marijuana; and
  • 7% made their policies stricter.

 

Where will testing be conducted?  Will you use a certified laboratory, conduct testing on-site, or both? Are there rules in the state that you operate in that mandate how testing is conducted?

When will testing be required?  Perhaps the most important consideration is when you will require employees to submit to a test.  Will you test all those applying for a job?  Will you include reasonable suspicion, post-accident, or random testing?  Are there state laws that prohibit you from screening in specific situations? Each of these test events has significant issues that should be carefully considered before finalizing your decisions.

How will testing be conducted? This issue involves a consideration of the most appropriate test method for your company.  Will you test using urine, blood, oral fluid (saliva), or hair?  Which test method is permitted in your state?  Can you use an on-site or instant test screening device?

What consequences or discipline will you impose if someone violates your company’s policy?  Will you offer an opportunity for treatment? Are there any state limitations on the actions you wish to impose?

This may all seem like it’s too much to deal with and not worth the effort.  But consider the realities of the statistics we have already discussed, can you risk being the workplace in your area that potential employees know does not drug test?

Also, consider that the apparent complexities of establishing and maintaining your company’s drug testing program, related procedures and employee handbook as your blueprint for protection! If you build a compliant testing program, your goals can be achieved.

Lastly, employers can and should take advantage of the financial rewards recognized by defending unemployment claims and by being able to raise appropriate defenses to workers’ compensation claims and reducing your workers’ compensation premiums in many states that offer such benefits. There are 19 states today that have enacted affirmative defenses (rebuttable presumption of Intoxication as one example) to a workers’ compensation claim – using a drug test result to deny a claim (so long as you followed all the rules). Many employers have seen the significant value and reap the rewards of a compliant workplace screening program by being prepared to defend these claims properly.

 

Conclusion

Perhaps the most impactful reason to establish a workplace screening program is the obligation for employers to foster a safe and productive workplace. The principal concept of safety is accepted across the nation in general, but also federal recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) “General Duty Clause,”[9] which reads in part:

29 U.S. Code § 654 – Duties of employers and employees

(a) Each employer—

(1) shall furnish to each of his employee’s employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;

(2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this chapter.

(b) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this chapter which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

Employers must carefully consider the pros and cons of establishing a drug and alcohol testing program that is specific to their workplace. Most employers would agree that the pros far outweigh the cons. Ensuring a safe workplace must be considered as a top priority for any organization, and substance abuse screening is a crucial component. Contact us today to learn more.

 

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[1] https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/physicians/health-trends/drug-testing.html.

[2] MMWR / December 21, 2018 / Vol. 67. Although overdose deaths from opioids continued to increase prescription rates of opioids was down slightly. See https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/physicians/health-trends/drug-testing.html.

[3] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm.

[4] https://www.detox.com/explore/drugged-out-daily-grind/. Of the 1,121 individuals surveyed opioids were the most commonly used drug at work; most respondents said they used drugs on the way to work or at lunch breaks. The car in the parking lot or the bathroom were the most common places to use drugs.

[5] https://www.nsc.org/Portals/0/Documents/NewsDocuments/2017/Media-Briefing-National-Employer-Drug-Survey-Results.pdf.

[6] 33 states & Washington, DC authorize the medical use of marijuana, 11 states  & Washington, DC allow Medical and Adult-Personal Use of marijuana, and 14 states allow the medical use of Cannabidiol (CBD)

[7] This discussion excludes from consideration those testing those testing programs required by federal rules or other laws.

[8] https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/pot-or-not-study-finds-nearly-70-percent-of-businesses-in-northern-colorado-still-drug-test-for-marijuana/

[9] Pub. L. 91–596, § 5, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1593

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