Workplace Drug Screening Opinion
Workplace Drug Screening Opinion
Ann Crawford
425 Chemical Dependency in the Workplace
June 21, 2010
Allie Pashley, PsyD
Workplace Drug Screening Opinion
Organizations are continuously hiring people; people to fill newly opened positions and people to fill recently vacated positions. Regardless of the position a person is to fill in the organization that is considering hiring him or her, the organization needs to ensure that they are hiring quality people; people who are hard working, honest, trust worthy and drug free. A way to ensure the person being hired is drug free is to do pre-employment drug screening; the way to ensure the employees remain drug free is to conduct periodic on-going drug screening. Here is a glimpse into whether drug testing is legal or ethical, the various drug testing programs, the types and reliability of the tests, the appropriateness of the tests, whether the tests should be mandatory or voluntary, and who should be tested and the reasons why.
Drug Testing: Legal-Ethical Ensuring that one’s business remains a safe place to work, and the employees are not using or abusing drugs is a right of the business and the business owner. Drug testing is generally not considered an intrusion on an individual’s privacy however the manner in which the test is given and the procedure that is used may end up crossing the line (Cohen & Cohen, 2007). Providing the drug testing is done consistently the process is completely legal and ethical. Drug testing works best for all concerned when the organization has a clearly written drug policy that is shared with all employees and all prospective employees (Stanley, June 2009). A well written drug policy tells the employees that the organization they are working for has no tolerance of drug use and abuse.
Drug Testing Programs “Drug testing has become one of the most effective techniques in promoting a drug-free workplace in America” (Carroll, 2000). Various types of drug testing
Ann Crawford
425 Chemical Dependency in the Workplace
June 21, 2010
Allie Pashley, PsyD
Workplace Drug Screening Opinion
Organizations are continuously hiring people; people to fill newly opened positions and people to fill recently vacated positions. Regardless of the position a person is to fill in the organization that is considering hiring him or her, the organization needs to ensure that they are hiring quality people; people who are hard working, honest, trust worthy and drug free. A way to ensure the person being hired is drug free is to do pre-employment drug screening; the way to ensure the employees remain drug free is to conduct periodic on-going drug screening. Here is a glimpse into whether drug testing is legal or ethical, the various drug testing programs, the types and reliability of the tests, the appropriateness of the tests, whether the tests should be mandatory or voluntary, and who should be tested and the reasons why.
Drug Testing: Legal-Ethical Ensuring that one’s business remains a safe place to work, and the employees are not using or abusing drugs is a right of the business and the business owner. Drug testing is generally not considered an intrusion on an individual’s privacy however the manner in which the test is given and the procedure that is used may end up crossing the line (Cohen & Cohen, 2007). Providing the drug testing is done consistently the process is completely legal and ethical. Drug testing works best for all concerned when the organization has a clearly written drug policy that is shared with all employees and all prospective employees (Stanley, June 2009). A well written drug policy tells the employees that the organization they are working for has no tolerance of drug use and abuse.
Drug Testing Programs “Drug testing has become one of the most effective techniques in promoting a drug-free workplace in America” (Carroll, 2000). Various types of drug testing
References: Carroll, C. R. (2000). Drug Abuse Prevention. In Drugs in Modern Society Fifth Edition (pp Cholakis, P., & Bruce, R. (2007). Drug Testing in the Workplace. Professional Safety 52(7) , pp. 31-36 Retrieved June 15, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1480057191). Cohen, C., & Cohen, M. (2007). On-duty and Off-duty: Employee Right to Privacy and Employer 's Right to Control in the Private Sector Davis, E., & Hueller, E. (2006). Strengthening the Case for Workplace Drug Testing: The Growing Problem of Methamphetamines Stanley, T. L. (June 2009). workplace substance abuse: a grave problem. Supervision, Vol. 70 Issue 6 , 18-21, 4p http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=40310348&site=ehost-live.