If you’re a business owner or manager, it’s easy to fall into the trap of sticking your head in the sand when it comes to issues, believing they won’t affect you or your business. But when it comes to drug and alcohol testing and the management of drug and alcohol issues, statistics suggest that this is one issue that will affect most business.
Why does my business need to undertake drug and alcohol testing? I trust my employees.
Trusting your employees is a good thing, but turning a blind eye to drugs and alcohol is not.
For example, let’s say your business has 100 employees. Research from reputable studies shows:
- Just over 18% of Australians 14 years and over consume alcohol at higher than recommended levels, putting them at risk of alcohol-related harm. On average, that’s 18 of your 100 employees.
- Around 20% of people say they’ve taken a sick day after drinking too much, with the same number admitting to going to work while drunk or affected by alcohol. That’s 20 of your 100 work force.
- In the last 12 months, for Australians 14 years and over:
- 10% have used cannabis
- Just over 2% have taken cocaine
- Around 2.5% have used ecstasy
- Just over 2% have taken methamphetamines or amphetamines. Of these, slightly more than 50% reported that ICE was the main drug they used.
- 2% of people confessed to attending work affected by drugs. On average, that’s 2 of your employees who have come to work under the influence of drugs.
- One in 10 employees say they have suffered negative effects when a fellow-employee came to work under the influence. This includes an accident, near accident or need to cover for an employee.
So, if you’re a business owner or manager, you do your own calculations and stop sticking your head in the sand.
Is your business safe from the affects of drugs and alcohol? Not a chance.
