Drug Testing in the Workplace

[Simbo]

Human rights are a ball ache the best of times!!! This is a touchy subject however, it could be easily twisted to sack an employee because the gaffer doesn't like him etc.
There are prescription drugs that are just as bad as illegal ones
However how would you feel if you had to turn up at work each day and work with someone who was half drunk from the night before, imagine you complain about it and the company can't do anything because of human rights, 2 days later the guy chops your hand off with a chainsaw because he's half drunk. Not good!!

 

[Tab373]

Have random drug and alcohol testing at least once a week at my work place. Part of the job and can't see a problem with it.I produce a list of people on site and the occupational health team generate 3 or 4 names from that.i work in the nuclear industry and you can't have people operating under the influence on a power plant.

 

[garyinderry]

If it costs a company a few grand to do these tests and it saves them tens of thousands on their insurance premium its a no brainer for them. lets not kid ourselves the are doing it for our benefit.

 

[Liverbirdie]

you can't have people operating under the influence of a powerful plant.

Thats how I read it. Chill, lar.

 

[Lump]

I work on the railway, D&A testing can and does happen randomly through out the year. It doesn't bother me in the slightest.
IMO if any one part of a company has the potential to deliver harm to any one person, the company should have D&A testing throughout. Its only fair and moral if one department of a company goes through D&A then it should be company wide.

 

[drdel]

Anybody must and should take responsibility for their actions. If you take money for doing a job but your performance mental and/or physical (it can't be separated) is impaired by drug taking then you have broken your contract and should be sacked - employers have a duty to the rest of their staff and customers to check.

I have no sympathy. As for their Human Rights what about mine? As a customer I expect, and, surely its my Human Right, that companies to provide me with the best they can do at the price they charge; either directly or indirectly.

I see no reason why I or anybody else should suffer from drugged drivers, shoddy construction, design, admin. cockups or other mistakes introduced by self induced poor performance.

 

[garyinderry]

I don't think its as cut and dry as that. Someone could go on a bender Friday and Saturday night on the booze and would still be feeling the effects on Monday. Whereas someone else could have a crafty puff on a Friday night, be perfectly able in mind, body and spirit for work on Monday.


Drug tests should be the reserve of a company if they believe their employee is under the influence in work. Otherwise its absolutely none of their business.

I heard on the radio yesterday that companies are even testing for legal highs. Not that I am in favour of people taking such substances but how can you sack someone for taking something that is legal.

 

[drdel]

^^^^ Sorry 'garyinderry" but I disagree, it is simple.

So it's their right to go on a "Bender" or have a "crafty puff" as you put it - their Human Right, if you like.

But I just don't expect any of my taxes supporting the NHS, well-being, etc. to be used to clear up the after effects of these daft people exercising their Human Right - that's my Human Right!

 

[bluewolf]

^^^^ Sorry 'garyinderry" but I disagree, it is simple.

So it's their right to go on a "Bender" or have a "crafty puff" as you put it - their Human Right, if you like.

But I just don't expect any of my taxes supporting the NHS, well-being, etc. to be used to clear up the after effects of these daft people exercising their Human Right - that's my Human Right!

So you're saying that you don't want your tax pounds to be spent treating conditions that are the result of the use of Legal substances? Even though those legal substances are already taxed a disproportionate amount in comparison? So you advocate the withholding of care from people with alcohol related diseases?
Just trying to clear up your point for my own benefit..:thup:


Oh, and while I'm online, I wish people would stop trying to put qualifying criteria on Human Rights. If there are qualifying criteria, then it's not a right.. And just who would formulate these criteria? Politicians? Do you actually trust them to put intelligent, compassionate criteria in place? Or would they just pander to the biggest selling Newspapers? (Not mentioning any titles in particular.)

 

[Tashyboy]

Yup companies should have random drug testing, however in my experience the term Random is massively open to abuse by the company. I do random drug testing and when our company decided to do random testing guess who was the first person to be randomly chosen. Yup, the tester aka. Tashyboy.

anyone that turned up at work and had been chosen had a drug and alcohol test at the start of there shift. But management had there's 3 or 4 hours into there shift once they had finished all there morning meetings. What's that all about. It was stopped after people created a stink up.

 

[bluewolf]

It should also be noted (slightly tongue in cheek), that there's a fairly large supposition at the heart of this thread...

You are assuming that alcohol/drugs are making the employee worse at his/her job.

 

[garyinderry]

^^^^ Sorry 'garyinderry" but I disagree, it is simple.

So it's their right to go on a "Bender" or have a "crafty puff" as you put it - their Human Right, if you like.

But I just don't expect any of my taxes supporting the NHS, well-being, etc. to be used to clear up the after effects of these daft people exercising their Human Right - that's my Human Right!

My point was the man on the bender would pass the drugs test although his state of mind at work ''could'' be dangerous. The man who had a quick puff would be of sound mind at work but fail the test and get sacked.

Doesn't seem right to me.

 

[6inchcup]

its not only illegal drugs that can have an adverse effect,prescription drugs can impede your work as well even over the counter tonics can make you drowsy and slower reaction time,not ideal if your driving.

 

[SocketRocket]

This issue is just too complicated to have a simple resolution. What about peoples mental health, or physical health; should companies test randomly for these?

It has generally been the responsibility for Managers to assess the capabilities of their Employees ability to carry out their jobs. This is one of the reasons an organisation needs managers and pays them for the responsibility.

OK; there are some jobs where the health of the individual is imperative to the safety of others and you would expect there to be suitable monitoring in place.

Most businesses are small and don't and will not have the resources to monitor such things, they will rely on the Supervisor to do their job and ensure staff are working as expected and if not take suitable action.

 

[patricks148]

If they had done tests like this when i worked in the City though the 90's I doubt anyone would have passed