Drug testing in the workplace can help to keep both employees and clients safe, especially in certain industries such as customer care and retail. Successfully implementing a drug testing policy can be difficult, however, particularly where individual privacy rights are concerned. While employers have the responsibility to keep their workplaces secure and professional, employee rights must be preserved.
The need for fair and transparent drug testing procedures that keep individual privacy in mind is only increasing, and this article takes a look at why drug testing policies must be carefully crafted and executed.
Why does drug testing in the workplace matter?
There are many reasons why employers choose to drug test their employees. Perhaps the most commonly cited of them is safety. Employees who are under the influence of certain drugs might have their thinking and decision-making impaired. This can, in turn, lead to an increased risk of workplace incidents, something that has the potential to seriously affect both employee and employer.
Another concern related to drug use in the workplace is work accuracy. Sometimes employees have a great deal of responsibility, and any mistake can be catastrophic, be it to the employer or their clients and customers. Drug use can affect focus and thought clarity, sometimes increasing worker errors.
Drug testing is more vital in some sectors than others, but often has benefits for many different kinds of employers across the globe. Any potential in-office drug policy, however, must be created with worker rights in mind. Before employers seek out effective drug testing lab services, such as those from Matrix Diagnostics, they should brush up on their legal and ethical duties to their employees. From there, they can choose the most effective drug testing service to suit their needs.
What are employee privacy rights?
Employees have a right to medical privacy in the workplace. This means that they are entitled to keep their health information private unless it impacts their job. Employees also have the right to enjoy their lives away from work without their employer digging into their personal activities. Additionally, UK employers must receive consent before they drug test an employee, something that is typically given in positions where contractual safety and health policies are in place. Employees have the right to refuse to be tested, but this does not exempt them from disciplinary action.
Drug testing often walks the line between a useful, often necessary workplace tool and a policy that has the inadvertent effect of violating this right to privacy.
How can drug testing be fair and respectful to all employees?
In the UK., drug testing can be used, but employers should consider a few different factors. First, consider testing only those employees who need to be tested, rather than an entire company. Some roles are less affected by drug use – these employees don’t necessarily need to be tested. Employers should also give their employees clear expectations regarding drug use upon hire, to ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start.
Drug testing can be an important part of creating a safe workplace, but it cannot come at the cost of employee privacy. The information that we’ve collected here is a good start for anyone interested in fair and transparent drug testing.
