Isn’t random drug testing an invasion of privacy? Why should an employee have to prove their innocence by taking a drug test as long as they’re getting the work done? These are all valid questions. Random drug testing is not meant to degrade employees. It is meant to protect employers and employees from unnecessary risks and foster a safe and productive work environment.
Random drug tests increase your company’s productivity by lowering the turnover rate. Studies show that substance abusers don’t stick with one company for too long. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that full-time workers who report current illicit drug use were more likely than those reporting no current illicit drug use to state that they had worked for three or more employers in the past year, voluntarily left an employer in the past year, or been fired by an employer in the past year. Only four years after implementing a workplace substance abuse program which included drug testing, Jerry Moland of Turfscape Landscape Care, Inc., in Chandler, AZ, testifies that his company is saving over $50,000 a year due to increased productivity, fewer accidents, and less absenteeism and turnover. Drug testing is not just a method for screening potential hires; it also monitors existing employees for this destructive behavior.
As a result, random drug tests deter existing employees from drug use. All indicators say that random drug testing is a major deterrent. One major lab which conducted 7 million drug tests in 2003, reported that drug use was down from 11% to 5% in 1990. It may be considered an invasion of privacy but some, but one could also argue that having your bags scanned at the airport is an invasion of privacy as well. Passengers boarding a flight may not like having their bags scanned, but they want to know they are safe. The same rule applies to random drug testing. Employees want to be safe too. They usually know who’s using drugs at the office.
Random drug testing can also serve as a catalyst for drug treatment. Studies show that an employee caught using drugs will do almost anything to keep their job. They may even let their family or house go, but having a job gives them a sense of security. Getting caught in a company drug testing program may be the only way to get some individuals the help that the desperately need. A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse in 1997 reports, “it appears that a mandatory referral to treatment and the risk of job loss served as a strong motive for treatment compliance.” Employers gain a well and focused employee and in turn the employee’s professional and personal life are changed for the better.
See? Random drug testing is not the nuisance that it’s made out to be. It is a safeguard to protect employers and the time and money they’ve invested in their employees. Employers aren’t the only ones who benefit from a drug free policy. Employees can know that they work in a safe environment and if necessary, receive the help they need to kick the habit.
