Drug and Alcohol Policies
Drug and Alcohol Policies
Employers have a legal duty to protect employees’ health, safety, and welfare, this is why businesses need drug and alcohol policies in the workplace.
Understanding the signs of drug and alcohol misuse (or abuse) will help you to manage health and safety risks in your workplace, develop a policy to deal with drug and alcohol-related problems, and support your employees. This policy should sit within employee handbooks.
What the issues are and what to look out for Misuse is not the same thing as dependence. Drug and alcohol misuse is the use of illegal drugs and misuse of alcohol, medicines, and substances such as solvents.
Warning signs of drug or alcohol misuse
Consider these warning signs, which could indicate drug or alcohol misuse:
· Unexplained or frequent absences
· Change in behaviour
· Unexplained dips in productivity
· More accidents or near-misses
· Performance or conduct issues
These can also be signs of other things, like stress or illness. Our resources page can help you with managing stress or sickness absence, including them returning to work.
Check out our YouTube video on drug and alcohol testing in the workplace.
How to manage drug or alcohol misuse in the workplace
You must consult employees or their representatives on health and safety matters. Consultation involves not only giving information to
employees but also listening to them and taking account of what they say.
You could ask your employees what they know about the effects of drugs and alcohol on health and safety and the restrictions or rules on drug and alcohol use in your business.
How we can help your business
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