Various Industries Use To Determine: Employee Uses Drugs (Essay Sample)

Drug Testing
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Drug testing is a process through which an employer determines whether employees are using drugs. Many companies have adopted drug testing policies in the work places. The testing is done to determine whether they use, or have used alcohol and drugs such as amphetamines, marijuana and cocaine. The companies have implemented the drug testing policies by sharing written policies with all the employees. For that matter, the companies have laid diversified strategies in mitigating the effects of drug use in the workplace. They have done this through educating the employees about the dangers of drug abuse, and provide assistance programs for those who have problems in relation to alcohol and drug abuse (Verstraete, 2011).
Answer to question 1
Decision on whether companies should conduct drug testing is debatable. Despites being an infringement of the personal privacy right of the employees, I think companies need to conduct drug testing on them to enhance the general safety of all the employees within the company. According to (Gerber and Yacoubian, 2001), the use of drugs and alcohol has direct effect on productivity, the morale of the employees and the company’s general expenditure which is influenced by health care claims as a result of the use of drugs. Drug testing can be conducted at different times for instance in pre-employment to avoid hiring employees who use drugs illegally. It can also be done when the employers observe signs and perhaps symptoms that lead them to suspect that an employee is using drugs in workplace. Similarly, it can be done periodically and in a scheduled manner after specific periods of time. It can as well be at random, or when employees return on duty.
Companies need to perform drug testing in order to ensure safety of the employees. Drug testing policies need to be stricter for instance, in companies where employees operate machinery, engage in driving or work closely with consumers. That, apart from ensuring the safety of all parties involved, it will improve the image of the company as the consumers will be confident when interacting with the employees. Verstraete (2011) adds that administration drug testing improves the integrity of the company. Showing the drug testing results to the public increases the reputation of the company and that may lead many clients being attracted to the company, as the clients gain trust in the company.
Similarly, companies need to perform drug testing in order to increase productivity of the employees. Employees who illegally use drugs are most likely to be late or totally be absent from work, and that reduces their productivity. Putting in place drug testing policies and ensuring that the employees abide by them leads to an increase in their productivity as absenteeism and lateness cases will reduce. On the same note, there is an improvement in the morale of the employees when they work in a drug-free environment and that increases their productivity (Verstraete, 2011).
Furthermore, as Gerber and Yacoubian (2001) emphasize, conducting drug testing on employees reduces accidents related to the use of drugs, breakdown of machines and improvement on the general health of the employees. Employees who use drugs are prone to engaging in accidents more so when operating machines or delicate equipments. Those who engage in drug abuse most often mishandle company equipment and that leads to their breakdown. Employees who do not abuse drugs are healthier than those who use drugs. Drug testing policies ensure that employees are healthier and that positively influences production.
Answer to question 2
Ensuring privacy of the employees is a crucial factor and employers need to guarantee this, since employees are motivated when working where their rights are respected. However, this does not demean the importance of the safety of the employees and the overall efficiency of the company. For that matter, conducting drug testing on employees is not appropriate. Ensuring the safety of the employees is an obligation of the employers and therefore they have to lay down strategies of ensuring this. It involves activities such as providing employees with protective devices such as gloves to protect against harmful chemicals, masks to protect against dusts and tinted spectacles to protect against very bright rays of light (Westin, 2003).
For the maintenance of proper safety at work, employers also need to make arrangement for emergencies. This included putting in place equipments such as mobile fire extinguishers which can be used to combat an unexpected fire. It also involves fast aid and treatment...