5 Benefits of Drug Testing Your Employees

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Posted: Dec 20th, 2022 at 12:00AM - by Melissa Tripp

Each and every year, drug abuse among employees costs US companies billions of dollars in revenue. Exactly how bad is it, you're wondering? Well, according to research, businesses lose $130 billion in productivity and $20 billion in healthcare costs due to substance abuse yearly.

While the impact on your business's bottom line is important, that's not all there is to consider with substance abuse in the workplace. This abuse leads to health and safety hazards for all, it can reduce employee morale, and stakeholders may lose confidence in your business.

Implementation of a drug testing program in your organization is an effective method to learn if job applicants and employees use illicit drugs or alcohol. A drug-free workplace helps your business save money, boosts employee productivity, and promotes a work environment that's conducive to success.

Why Should You Drug Test Your Employees? 5 Benefits

Let's dive more into the key benefits of drug testing your employees.

1. It Creates a Safe Work Environment

Workers under the influence of drugs pose a significant risk to themselves, their colleagues, customers, and the company as a whole. Drug use by employees impairs judgment, which is why substance abuse in the workplace is linked with an increase in on-the-job accidents and even theft. Poor decision-making, reduced response time, destruction of sensitive customer information, and even death can occur.

Regular drug testing ensures that employees aren't intoxicated or hung over when using equipment or handling sensitive work. A company that conducts drug testing protects the welfare of its customers, employees, and assets. Drug testing ensures workers are lucid and can handle any task confidently. It also reduces employee drug usage in general and motivates them to live a healthier lifestyle.

This is a win for anyone involved with the company in any capacity.

2. Drug Testing Helps Increase Productivity

Drug and alcohol abuse can reduce workplace productivity through absenteeism, tardiness, low morale, difficulty in completing work-related tasks, and poor colleague relationships.

Productivity is essential to the success of any business. Having pre-employment or random drug testing ensures your employees are always sober during work days. Employees who are free of drugs are more likely to give their best performance to the company. In addition, their morale and relationships with their colleagues tend to be more positive and fulfilling.

Having a drug testing program in your company helps you find, monitor, and manage employees with substance abuse problems and assists you in recruiting (and keeping) reliable team members. Drug-free employees increase the company's overall productivity. Thus, the company is more likely to notice a positive impact on its bottom line.

3. It Reduces Costs and Liabilities

You might think drug testing is just another business expense. However, the benefits of conducting drug tests outweigh the costs. Employees with drug problems are prone to health-related issues. Taking drugs can lead to health complications such as damage to the liver, lung irritation, heart disease, stroke, and dehydration. Having a chronic drug user in your workplace means they might claim medical expenses more often, leading you to pay higher premiums.

In addition, employees who use drugs are highly likely to cause accidents or make serious errors. This can lead to a variety of additional expenses, including legal fees and health costs for injured employees or customers.

Implementing a drug testing program in your organization helps reduce unnecessary expenses from drug use. Regular testing reduces drug use, leading to healthier employees on your premises and fewer premiums paid out to medical costs. The testing also protects your company from legal action by identifying employees who threaten work safety through drug use.

Several states offer incentives to companies implementing drug testing programs, such as reducing workers' compensation claim payouts if a drug test is positive.

4. Drug Testing Elevates the Reputation of Your Organization

Implementation of a drug testing program in your company creates a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. A company with good working conditions is competitive since more people will want to be associated with it.

Having a drug testing program can boost your company's reputation by:

• Creating a more positive working environment.
• Encouraging healthier relationships and collaboration.
• Achieving more high-quality work since employees are healthy, happy, and safe.
• Showing that the company cares about the well-being of the team.

5. It Reduces Staff Turnover and Recruitment Costs

Employees who abuse drugs are more likely to change jobs often, whether they leave or get fired. A high turnover rate in a company forces employers to spend more of their budget on finding new employees. Not only is it financially costly to find, hire, and train new employees, but it takes a lot of time too.

Recruiting new employees with substance abuse problems increases the risks of driving away your best employees. Productive employees want to work in a healthy environment so that their own journeys are more fulfilling and productive.

Conducting pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing affects the employee turnover rate positively. A survey by SHRM reveals that 16% of organizations had a reduction in turnover rates after implementing drug testing programs.

Where Can My Employee Get a Drug Test?

Visit e7 Health if you need a drug testing program for your company. We offer same-day and next-day appointments and make it easy for you to book appointments online. All e7 Health drug testing programs have been designed to comply with federal and state laws. The main components of our program are the written policy, supervisor training, employee education, drug and alcohol testing, and the employee assistance program.

Workplace drug testing is essential for your company, especially in the age of cannabis and working from home. Adopting a drug testing program ensures that your work environment is in the best position possible to succeed.

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