The Case for Taking Drugs at Work
Business: Daps Management Consultants
Product: Managament Consulting: Organisational Performance and Financial Management

Assessment Item 1
BSB115 – Management

Word Count: 456 1.0 Introduction
Recent studies show that the uses of drugs in the workplace are becoming more commonplace in day to day performance to boost productivity. There is always a level of risk when using any drug, including prescription and or over the counter medications and not to forget the illicit drugs. This can affect workplace relationships, safety and productivity.

2.0 Summary of the Issue
Workplace trends have been changing over the years. The pressure to perform well has become increasingly competitive within the white-collar industry, Therefore to perform well means working longer hours and with this workplace pressure as such has become increasingly high powered so to help workers handle stressful situations like this workers have turned to the use of pharmaceutical drugs as well as illegal drugs. However the drugs workers are using can have an extreme effect on those who actually do not even need to use them. They are being used to help focus and increase work performance. The number if Australians who recently used pharmaceuticals for nonmedical purposes increased by more then 100,000 between 2007 and 2010 (Pharmacautical Drug Misuse in Australia, 2011).

3.0 Implications for Management of Daps Management Consultants
Drug use or misuse amongst employees can cause expensive problems for their workplace. If combinations of drugs are taken with other prescription drugs can often be harmful and produce side effects without exception. Most drugs can be easily purchased without medical advice that also leads to unmanaged dosages. These side affects cause problems ranging from lost productivity, injuries, absence, theft and even fatalities as well as low employee morale (Drugs and the Workplace, 2015). Worth it or not in the short term and long term, the employee’s health is at risk and therefore will increase loss of productivity due to illness. Data from general population studies and from specific groups point to pharmaceutical drug misuse become an increasing problem in Australia (Pharmacautical Drug Misuse in Australia, 2011).

4.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, this is a relatively new area of research, and so uncertainty still abounds (Adonis, 2015). Due to the fact there is little or no research to support the article ‘The Case for Taking Drugs at Work’, the use of taking pharmaceutical drugs as a performance enhancer is detrimental to Daps Management Consulting’s employees, company and reputation. To discourage the unnecessary use of pharmaceutical drugs used for job performance, Daps Management Consultants owe a duty of care to all employees, and suitable procedures will be put into place. These measures being employee counseling services and awareness groups, as well as employee and management education/training. And if need be drug testing could also be used either as a deterrent and or a form of testing of risk to employees’ and the company.
Reference List

Adonis, J. (2015, 05 21). The case for taking drugs at work. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/managing/work-in-progress/the-case-for-taking-drugs-at-work-20150521-gh6nyz.html

Drugs and the Workplace. (2015). Retrieved 08 19, 2015, from NCADD: https://ncadd.org/learn-about-drugs/workplace

Pharmacautical Drug Misuse in Australia. (2011). (NCETA, Producer, & Flinders University) Retrieved 08 19, 2015, from http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/6113/2823/3742/EN448_Nicholas_2011.pdf