Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Drug abuse in the workplace
Effects of drug testing in the workplace
Drug abuse in the workplace
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Drug abuse in the workplace
In 1986, drug testing was enforced for Federal work places by the Reagan Administration. The administration felt that federal work institutions should maintain a “Drug Free” environment. Hoping to keep workplaces drug free led to the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. The act mandated that creation of drug policies was mandatory in federal contracts (Presley, 27). The Drug Free Workplace Act resulted in a “widespread implementation of drug testing programs across a broad spectrum of workplaces.” The business’s goal was to combat drug use (Macdonald, 408). Today, “80% of top Fortune 1000 companies” have a drug testing program in effect (409). It has been twenty-five years since the Drug Free Workplace Act was initiated and the quality of the workplace has improved dramatically. Drug testing in the work place has led to an overall better work environment.
However, many believe that making drug testing mandatory is unconstitutional. . Protestors propose that drug testing is a violation of an individual’s privacy. They believe there should be a separation between work and private life. The boycotters classify drug use as a private life matter. Sine drug use is a so called private matter; they view drug abusers as being capable of handling their own addictions without the intervention of their place of employment. After all, according to them, drug use only affects the user and no harm is done to innocent coworkers. Many companies assume their employees are clean –that drug abuse is not happening in their business (Say, 22). Presley states that the majority of U.S. workers do not use illicit drugs; therefore, testing everyone is an intrusion of their private life and a waste of money (Presley, 27).
However, statistics...
... middle of paper ...
...l OneFile.
Web. 15 Nov. 2011.
Flannery, Harry A. “Unilaterally Instituted Drug Screen Tests In The Unionized Private Industry:
An Appropriate Response?.” Labor Law Journal 38.12 (1987): 756-762. Business Source Premier. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
Hoffer William. “Business’ war on drugs.” National Business Oct. 1986: 18+. General
OneFile. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
Macdonald, et al. “Testing for Cannabis In The Work-Place: A Review Of The Evidence.”
Addiction 105.3 (2010): 408-416. CINAH Plus with Full Text. Web. 7. Nov. 2011.
Roberts, Sally. “Random drug testing can help reduce accidents for construction companies; Drug abuse blamed for heightened risk in the workplace.” Business Insurance 23 Oct. 2006: 6. General OneFile. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
“Say No to Drug Use in the Work Place.” New York Times 10 Feb. 1986: 22. Regional Business
News. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
Sloane. A. A., Witney, F. (2010). LABOR RELATIONS (13th editions). Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Prescription and pharmaceutical drug abuse is beginning to expand as a social issue within the United States because of the variety of drugs, their growing availability, and the social acceptance and peer pressure to uses them. Many in the workforce are suffering and failing at getting better due to the desperation driving their addiction.
The chapter, Selling in Minnesota, had some disturbing information about the low wage life. As I read, I learned that every place the author went to apply, such as a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot type place called Menards, required the applicant to pass a drug test. The author went out and had to buy detox for $30, but can be up to $60. Also, I learn that 81% of employers do drug test their future employees. I don’t like this statistic, in part because I tried getting a job at Marshall Field’s restaurant and they required me to pass a drug test. Luckily, another employer called me before my scheduled drug screening (which I had planned on passing by being really sneaky and using the urine of a friend of mine), so I took that job offer and everything worked out well. The reason I don’t agree with the drug testing required to access most entry-level jobs, is because the only drugs they actually test for is Marijuana. Cocaine and heroine leave the body within three days, and other drugs aren’t even tested for. So that leaves the most commonly used illicit drug, and one that has the least affect on the user, to be tested for.
Drug Testing has progressively become very popular in today's low wage jobs. Jobs like Wal-Mart, Sav-on, Block Buster and many burger establishments; where the starting salary is seven dollars and twenty cents an hour requires its applicants to be drug tested before they are hired. Drug testing is based on a blue collar, white collar division.
Bennett-Alexander, Dawn D. & Hartman, Laura P. (2001). Employment Law for Business (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing. Downloaded February 4, 2008 from the data base of http://www.eeoc.gov
Brecher, Edward M. (1972) Licit and Illicit Drugs; The Consumers Union Report on narcotics, stimulants, depressants, inhalants, Hallucinogens, and marijuana- including caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. New York, 291-390
Moran, J. J. (2008). Employment law: New challenges in the business environment. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Employers may want to consider combating the stigma which haunts its addicted workers with a resourceful drug rehabilitation education system to both its addicted and non-addicted employees including the scientific facts surrounding addiction and dependence. This education may develop a positive perception of management, trust and introduce an efficient employee assistance program for all those in need to utilize.
Woolley, John T., and Gerhard Peters. "Richard Nixon: Special Message to the Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control." The American Presidency Project. The American Presidency Project, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
“Office of National Drug Control Policy.” The White House. USA, 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
Before I start to discuss the various ways to get control of substance abuse I
The ethics of drug testing has become an increased concern for many companies in the recent years. More companies are beginning to use it and more people are starting more to have problems with it. The tests are now more than ever seen as a way to stop the problems of drug abuse in the workplace. This brings up a very large question. Is drug testing an ethical way to decide employee drug use? It is also very hard to decide if the test is an invasion of employee privacy. “The ethical status of workplace drug testing can be expressed as a question of competing interests, between the employer’s right to use testing to reduce drug related harms and maximize profits, over against the employee’s right to privacy, particularly with regard to drug use which occurs outside the workplace.” (Cranford 2) The rights of the employee have to be considered. The Supreme Court case, Griswold vs. Connecticut outlines the idea that every person is entitled to a privacy zone. However this definition covers privacy and protection from government. To work productively especially when the work may be physical it is nearly impossible to keep one’s privacy. The relationship between employer and employee is based on a contract. The employee provides work for the employer and in return he is paid. If the employee cannot provide services because of problems such as drug abuse, then he is violating the contract. Employers have the right to know many things about their employees.
Labour and Employment Law. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western Publishing Company.
...ey to getting a good job, but high school students can’t get their education if they are caught up in doing drugs. Over thirty percent of dropouts in the United States are because of drugs. The thirty percent of drug addict dropouts may never find a job. Thats why it is important for high school drug testing to be enforced among all students. High school drug testing would allow early notice of drug use and allow the school to steer the student into the right path towards success. The drug tests will give students confidence and another reason to say “No” when being peer pressured into trying drugs. Many would argue that drug testings invade their privacy, but with drug usage being at an all time high who can we count on? High schools are made to prepare students for their future, and in order to make the students successful we must allow high school drug testings.
Suffield, L., & Templer A. (2012). Labour Relations, PH Series in Human Resources Management, 3rd Edition