There are many measures that an employer can take to maximise safety and productivity in the workplace. One of the most notable ones is pre-employment drug testing. It’s an effective method to determine whether or not a potential employee would be a liability or hazard in the workplace. Drug abuse can impact an employee’s focus and cause them to make mistakes or even cause injuries.
If you’re wondering why many businesses choose to test employees for various illicit substances, we’ll cover some of the most notable ones below. Here’s how drug testing can improve workplaces in various industries.
Identifying employee drug problems
Drug problems might seem like they’re obvious issues that be spotted easily, but that’s not quite the case. After all, what are drug tests for? Many employers require drug tests as part of their pre-employment process. Therefore, they can screen prospective employees for substance abuse. Heavy drug abuse can affect an employee’s productivity and quality of work in the workplace. So that’s why certain lines of work emphasise the importance of being drug-free.
By identifying the problem as soon as possible, a company can prevent their employee productivity from falling. Even if the drug abuse isn’t notable early on, swift action can help nip the problem in the bud before it gets out of hand.
Maintaining safety in the workplace
One of the top priorities for any workplace manager is to keep their employees and customers safe. Many jobs require employees to move large amounts of materials and operate heavy machinery, which are tasks that require undivided attention. In medical settings, taking care of patients without harming them also requires focus.
Employees who abuse drugs could find themselves losing that focus at critical moments. That can lead to catastrophic consequences, especially if customers or other employees depend on them. If a driver falls asleep at the wheel or accidentally runs a red light, people can get injured or worse. Studies show that up to half of all workplace injuries are related to substance abuse problems. And drug use can lead to a five-fold increase in injuries for a particular workplace. In situations where the employee needs to stay completely focused, drug testing is a necessary safety precaution.
Adhering to occupational safety guidelines
We’ve mentioned that drug use can lead to injuries in the workplace, especially in lines of work that involve machinery and vehicles. While it’s in the interest of a workplace manager to prevent these injuries, they are also forced to take measures due to regulatory guidelines. Not adhering to government regulations could lead to fines or otherwise inhibit the company.
Government regulatory agencies determine occupational health standards which can include testing for drug abuse. Pre-employment testing allows the company to stick to the applicable state and federal testing regulations from the start. If a drug abuse problem surfaces after the employee join the company, further drug testing is usually performed by occupational health providers that the company partners with.
Improving company image and reputation
Another important goal for many companies is to maintain their reputation. When running a business, you want to make sure that the public perception of your company remains positive. The goal is to create a clean and ethical business name in the current market. This type of reputation can depend heavily on workers and their performance.
If a business is known for its lax screening and drug-abusing employees, this doesn’t reflect well on its brand. Customers might avoid dealing with employees if it’s in the service industry, and potential employees choose not to join the company. Creating a good reputation is a delicate process, and screening for drug abuse can help maintain a much cleaner look.
Increasing productivity and output
Productivity is a critical metric for any company. Maintaining morale and productivity is one of the many challenges managers face in the workplace. If employees have drug problems, these goals can be more difficult to attain, especially if that drug abuse is affecting their fellow employees.
Pre-employment drug tests can help businesses create a safe and productive space for their employees and maximise productivity. The great thing about drug testing is that it’s not a complicated process, even if you have a large number of employees. Getting professional drug testing kits for a workplace is easy enough, and they deliver quick results. An employer can verify that a prospective employee is drug-free quickly and efficiently, which means it doesn’t cost the company any significant resources. Some tests can deliver results within only minutes. And they can always be retaken if someone suspects that there might be a false positive. All-in-all, it’s not a particularly costly measure, but it can make all the difference when aiming for high productivity in the workplace.
Combating high turnover rates
It’s well established that drug abuse can affect productivity and worker morale. That is also estimated that over half of employees that skip more than eight regular days of work per year do so due to drug abuse problems. Not only does this cost businesses in terms of lost work, but it also leads to higher turnover rates. Drug abuse problems can cause individuals to lose their jobs or choose to stop pursuing them.
As a result, pre-employment drug tests help curb turnover rates. The lower the chance that an employee has a drug problem, the better the company can count on them to stay in the long term. It’s a simple measure that can have an enormous impact on key metrics like turnover.
Conclusion
Pre-employment drug tests are incredibly important and oftentimes mandated, in many industries. Without them, it would be impossible to verify whether an employee is an important and dangerous line of work is a danger to themselves or others. At the same time, companies want to keep their productive employees, and drug abuse can contribute to high turnover and drops in productivity. It should come as no surprise that so many businesses choose to test their employees for drug abuse, as the potential benefits outweigh the cost for testing and screening by quite a bit.
