When Should You Test?

Actively enforcing your policy is crucial in tackling drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace and genuinely addressing the issue. If your policy is not sufficiently rigorous, you could be just as vulnerable as those who fail to have one at all.

Employers or organisations decide to test their employees for a number of reasons but most importantly, you should test whenever your policy dictates. Only by testing, can you enforce your policy and begin to address drug and alcohol misuse. Testing can be used in various ways, for example:

• as part of a selection process for job applicants
• as part of a probation period for new starters
• testing all or part of the workforce routinely, occasionally or on a random basis
• in specific circumstances, such as after an accident or incident, where there is evidence of drinking or drug use that contravenes the company’s regulations, or as part of an aftercare rehabilitation programme

Drug and alcohol testing is a sensitive issue and securing the collective support of the workforce to the principles behind it is essential, partly because of the practical and legal issues involved. We have a comprehensive service that can help you with writing your policy and union (or another working group) discussions.