Drugs and Alcohol.
Alcohol and drug testing at work has been
continually in the news. But testing workers
is not a magic solutions to a serious workplace problem.
A number of recent studies have suggested UK companies have a growing appetite
for drug and alcohol tests. However, closer scrutiny of workplace
practices would on
many occasions be more instructive. Testing will not reveal the possible
workplace
causes of drug or alcohol misuse such as stress or long, or irregular, hours.
Health organisations recognise now that the best approach is to treat drug and
alcohol
use problems in the workplace as sickness or capability, and not disciplinary,
issues.
The TUC says drugs and alcohol policy should be comprehensive and should ensure
workers feel confident to report rather than to hide problems. It is
important that employers and union representatives address the issue in a
non-judgemental way.
Every employer should have in policy on dealing with the issue and unions should
be involved in developing and implementing these polices.
Employee assistance programmes, or better still "member assistance programmes" ,
where unions provide back up and support for their members, can help individuals
return to a healthy and productive condition.