...Workplace Drug Screening Opinion Paper Kimberlee MacKay PSY 425 December 2, 2012 Dr. Lisa Pleszkoch Workplace Drug Screening Opinion Paper Looking for a new job may require more than just filling out and employment application these days. Many employers require the applicant to take a pre-employment drug test and to pass it before they consider offering the person a job. Drug testing does not stop there. Employers can set forth other testing for a variety of reasons such as, random testing, reasonable cause, post-accident, and treatment follow-up, to name a few. An employer needs to be able to offer employees a safe workplace with as little risk as possible. In 1991, “The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that 68% of illicit drug users were employed” (2008, para. 2). This paper will focus on screening techniques, testing programs, and workplace prevention and education. Drug Screening Tests No test method is 100% accurate. The employer must find a reliable laboratory for testing, which meets all federal and state guidelines. Costs can vary depending on the type of testing method used. Obtaining a specimen requires a trained professional and should protect the person’s right to confidentiality and privacy. Urine Test This is also known as a urinalysis and requires the person to submit a urine specimen. “A test card can give immediate results or the specimen is sent out to a lab to undergo gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS)” (About Drug Testing, n.d...
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...Work Place Drug Screening Opinion Paper Miquavian Tate PSY/425 January 14th, 2016 Sherrell Ellis Workplace Drug Screening Opinion Paper In today's society drugs are have become more prevalent that any other time in the past. Due to the rise in drug use, employers have begun to take more steps in testing potential candidates before they make the decision to hire them. Although these drug tests do not show potential addictions to alcohol, they take the chance of hiring someone who abuses drugs out of the picture. There are many tests available to these employers to choose. This paper will cover the type of test available, what's the kind of programs are offered to those who abuse drugs and give a general summary of both ethical and legal issues surrounding drug testing in the workplace (Hartwell, 1996). There are five types of drug tests that employers can choose. These five tests are consist of urinalysis, blood testing, hair testing, saliva, and sweat testing. The most common form of drug testing used during pre-employment is urinalysis. Urinalysis is the most popular with companies because of how little the cost is and how easy it is to administer on of these test. Although there are low costing and easy, these test can easily be tampered with by the recipients of the test by drinking large amounts of water pretest to dilute the urine to make the sample untestable. Another problem that may arise is that of a possibility of error with the test at the lab which they...
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...Drugs in the Workplace Mark Gomez MGT 331 December 7, 2015 Abstract Defining the “drug problem” in the workplace is a task riddled with ambiguity because employers aren’t completely sure how to implement the most suitable policy for their organization. This should be an employer’s concern because drug misuse is a serious problem that can affect the business where the user works and sometimes their co-workers. Successfully tackling the drug issue correctly can benefit the employer by reducing absenteeism, reducing accidents related to drug use and promoting a more productive environment. The focus of this paper is to review current workplace policies on drug use and the challenges it brings employers. Drugs in the Workplace When it comes to drugs, employers have a legal responsibility to look after employees’ wellbeing, health and safety. Employers have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 (HSW Act) to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees (Drug Misuse at Work A Guide for Employers, 2005). A good employer will want to help employees. In some cases, alcohol or drug misuse may be used to help cope with work-related stress. If there is a problem with alcohol or drug misuse in your workplace, then this may be part of a wider stress problem. A good starting point is to focus on the scope of the situation. Prescriptive drug use in the Unites States of America accounts for roughly 48...
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...Learning Team Drug-Free Workplace Evaluation Paper To Buy This material Click below link http://www.uoptutors.com/PSY-425/PSY-425-Week-3-Learning-Team-Drug-Free-Workplace-Evaluation-Paper Read the following scenario: o The Jackdaw Company manufactures designer label clothing in several locations throughout New York and New Jersey. Over the last six years the company has grown from a handful of dedicated employees to just under 100 which include production managers, sewers, administrative assistants, and delivery truck drivers. The CEO and HR department is considering instituting a companywide drug-free workplace policy along with pre-employment drug testing for new hires. Some at the Jackdaw Company are not fully convinced that such a policy is necessary and are concerned about the costs associated with implementing a new program. Your team of consultants has been contacted to write the company’s policy. Your team will also provide training to employees if The Jackdaw Company decides to adopt your policy. • Your assignment is to prepare a 2,000 – 2,500 word report for The Jackdaw Company that emphasizes the importance of a drug-free workplace and the possible cost saving benefits to the company. When suggesting policies to help promote a drug-free workplace, include the following: o Key benefits associated with a drug-free workplace. o The prevalence of illicit and prescription drug users in the United States workforce. o The possible effects of drug abuse on...
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...CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS ISSUES – PRIVACY IN THE WORKPLACE How Privacy Issues Affect Businesses How Privacy Issues Affect Businesses The existing economic and business setting implies on-going efforts towards better understanding and dealing with the challenges of the modern era, which are characterized by the crucial need for making changes due to intense competition and ongoing global crisis’. As a rule, privacy rights are established by explicit regulations, laws or rules. Some privacy rights are relevant in the workplace and some don't. And even if there is no particular law, a right to privacy can be based on the legal common law notion of having a "reasonable expectation of privacy”, (Lippke, 1998). For employers and employees in the business industry, privacy concerns have become progressively more widespread in the workplace, and with the increased use of electronic resources, privacy at work is even more compound. Consequently, it is imperative that both supervisors and managers have a fundamental understanding of some of the more common privacy rights and issues that can arise, as well as the restrictions that may apply. Some of the more prevalent privacy issues that employees face are drug testing, email monitoring, personnel records, social security numbers, monitoring and eavesdropping, back-ground screening, and medical records. Because of these issues, there are quite a few areas of human capital management in which privacy rights are recognized. Whether...
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...The purpose of this paper is to overview the steps implemented in creating a successful staff in the workplace. Staff planning is a team effort between the Human Resources manager and the actual department hiring manager. The Grady Memorial Hospital has steps and requirements for housekeeping positions that must be met before an applicant can be hired. The cleanliness of a hospital is important in the health of its patients. If the hospital is dirty, a patient may catch a nosocomial infection which can cause death. A clean hospital on the other hand, can actually contribute to a patient’s health because fewer germs mean less chance of infection and a quick recovery. In order to ensure a hospital is as clean as it should be, there should be stringent training in the use of cleaning detergents and the proper way to clean. At Grady Memorial, the first step to being considered for cleaning position in the hospital is recruiting. The recruiting process is not as vigorous as most due to the number of military wives who seek employment at the base. Most of the recruiting is done by use of bulletin boards. Recruiting is also done at organized job fairs to reach potential applicants that do not have ties to the community surrounding Grady Memorial. While housekeeping is a job that requires on the job training, it does help to seek only the applicants that are able to handle the duties associated with cleaning a hospital. Screening applicants to work at Grady Memorial...
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...himself enough time to examine the problems first. He never took interest in the important information and the views of the other employees. Carl Robins recruited fifteen new trainees for Monica Carroll. Monica served as one of the Operation Supervisor for ABC, Inc. This case study focused on Carl's main issues, his poor planning, and his inexperience on how to hire new recruits. Carl was not aware of the length of time it was going to take in order for him to complete his task. Carl’s main goal was to schedule another orientation set for June 15, in order for the new employees to start working in the month of July. Sadly, the process of the new trainees had to suddenly stop because of some incomplete files, conflicts in scheduling, drug screenings that were not set up and the lack of training that was required before the start date. This was a huge setback for Carl to...
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...Case Study Analysis Paper Introduction ABC, Inc., hired Mr. Carl Robins as the campus new recruiter. He was responsible for recruiting qualified candidates and processing them through the company’s orientation class. Employed at the company for only six months he recruited fifteen new hires. The company current new hire process and procedures was obsolete. Carl’s coordination in the preparation and execution fell short in the overall set-up of the new employee orientation. ABC, Inc., new hire process and mentoring program failed to match an experienced employee with Mr. Carl Robins during his initial six months on the job. An experience mentored could have effectively provided a smooth transition in preparation of coordinating the new hire orientation for the new employees. Background Mr. Carl Robins recruited and hired fifteen new personnel in early April. The new trainees will work for Monica Carroll’s, the Operations Supervisor. Carl goal was to have the new employees start work in July after the completion of the new employee’s orientation on the 15th of June. Monica, followed-up with Carl on the 15th of May in regards to an up to date status on the scheduled training and the policy booklet for the new hires. Also, the mandatory drug screening tests a requirement before attending the new employee orientation. Carl ensured Monica that everything was on track for the 15th of June scheduled orientation and the new hires are just waiting to attend the class. After...
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...1. How does drug testing effect hiring and testing employees A. Though many feel that drug testing is an invasion of privacy, drug testing enhances the probably to having a successful business. B. The strategy is to obtain the best employees to come in and assure that your company will have a successful production and outcome rate. C. There are different regulations and laws set to insure proper and relevant drug testing that assure the best environment for the workplace (employer and employees) D. In today’s workplace, drug testing has become a debatable matter. Every employer, regardless of industry or profession, must decide on way to position themselves and their business. There are many people that feel drug testing in the workplace is an attack of privacy. On the other side, however, there are those who believe that in today's workplace drug testing may be common but is vibrant to a successful business. 2. The Body of my research A. How do regulated laws play a part in the effect of drug testing? B. How lab testing affect the outcome for the employer and the employee. C. Pros a. Confining to federal and state regulations. b. Weeding out people that will be a liability to the employer, co-workers, and themselves. c. Preventing low productivity from that use drugs as compared to those that don’t. d. Preventing a high rating of work injuries. D. Cons e. Resistance from employers. Violates their privacy...
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...Final Paper Introduction There are many legal and ethical issues that we face in the world today. Business are the ones who are hit hard by these issues and need to find ways to identify them while also doing what they can to prevent any loss of business as a cause. One of the examples that this paper will talk about is the issue of drug testing. Drug testing is a sensitive issue as there are many different viewpoints regarding this issue. Drug testing also known as drug screening was used increasingly in the 1990’s to test for the presence of illegal narcotics in the blood or urine of the employees. An employee abusing illegal narcotics may be impaired and thus at a greater risk of injury or illness on the job (Kesselring & Pittman, 2002). A previous company I used to work for had many issues regarding drug testing and it sometimes came back to hurt them. Drug testing has become an issue of outstanding social concern across the country and has been used by many employers (Wall, 1992). This paper will explain the issue that drug testing causes as well as some of the ethical concerns raised by the situation. This paper will also explain the laws that effect drug testing as well as recommendations to reduce liability exposure and improve the ethical climate of the situation Description of Business that presents a legal and ethical issue Drug testing was a big concern of a company I used to work for in San Diego. Sterling Security was a company that was bought out in 2004...
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...various areas are hazardous, they could potentially cause electrical fires, and damage to both employees and property. 2. Improper practices when servicing or installing equipment for the network, potentially are very damaging to those doing the servicing and the equipment being serviced. 3. The length of time that employees spend in front of computer screens and typing on the keyboards could result in eyestrain, back-strain and carpel tunnel syndrome 4. Lack of a safety program that covers employees and vendors from workplace hazards, what to do when they occur, and how to avoid them. 5. Situations such as the time that the employees spend working daily and the way that the demands of that is related to work stress and burnout. The lack of structure within the organization that works to alleviate the fallouts of this type of stress. Detail specific work practices associated with equipment, tools and chemical use used in the workplace. Pay special attention to personal protective equipment, physical and mental health and safety,...
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...ACCOUNTABILITY OF AN EXECUTIVE LEADER’S MENTAL & BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCY? EMPLOYEE TESTING LAWS 2 Abstract This paper serves two roles. Firstly, the work attempts to synthesize the efforts of fellow classmates as presented in our mutual discovery and examination of Equal Employment Opportunity law during a traditional graduate level “long semester”. This synthesis piece will primarily consider the focus areas that surround employee testing (drug testing, as well as pen and paper evaluations). Secondly, this paper presents application dilemmas for the practitioner with regard to the language of the current legislation. The paper argues that the current collection of employee testing legislation, while offering necessary civil protections, would benefit from targeted amendments. These amendments would include language that would exempt specific employees of certain protections that are currently offered to all employees under existing EEO law. The paper argues that existing laws do not ensure the sound mental capacity and well being of leaders charged with protecting the collective interests of many stakeholders. These “specific employees” would primarily include executive leadership roles within publicly traded companies or those employees that currently fall under any “SOX/Dodd-Frank” compliance regulations. The “certain protections” that this paper argues should be forfeited by CLevel employees include a complete redesign of how a leader’s mental competency is measured...
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...Midwest part of the state a name Computers by Design (CBD) a small computer system business. The owners of the business have noticed a continuous rise in health care insurance. After doing research, the owners have decided to hire employees that are less likely to make claims, healthy, fit and non-addicted (UPOX, 2016). Abigail along with the other owners have created a two- step program for employees that will include pre-employment screening and a program to assist them a worker to stop smoking and non-prescription drugs (UPOX, 2016). This paper will discuss the legal issues involved with pre-employment screenings. It will also cover the topics of unions, collective bargaining, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act. According to Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, the 14th Amendment states that employees are protected legally from unreasonable searches and seizures (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007). The owners of CBD need to check the state laws to understand the privacy laws that protect employees and clarify pre-employment screenings before completing a business plan. Computer by Design need to review the Americans with Disabilities Act concerning health information specifics decisions are governed but are restricted by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, 2009). Employers cannot use the under the HIPPA law use protected health information when deciding on employment decisions without prior consent (HIPP, 2009). The protection health insurance...
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...Case Study Analysis Introduction On this case study analysis paper we will look at Car Robin’s facing major problem as the new recruiter for ABC, Inc. He had only been employed with the company for six months when he was promoted to this position. He just recently recruited fifteen new trainees; yet, it appears that his lack of experience, lack of communication, and lack of organization has led to several problems occurring before the new trainees are supposed to begin training. Prioritizing his actions he has to handle the situation in timely manner. If he can’t not handle it within the time span he will have to minimize the damage and finally, he will have to plan for these kinds of things not to happen in the future. Background Carl Robbins, a new campus recruiter for ABC Inc., was assigned the job recruiting new hires to work for the Operations Supervisor, Monica Carrols. He hired 15 new trainees to work with Monica. This was Carl’s first recruitment effort. Car had scheduled a new hire orientation, which was to take place on June 15. He wanted to have all of the new hires working by July. On May 15, Monica contacted Carl about the training process, orientation, manuals, police booklets, physicals, and drug screening which Carl would coordinate for the new recruits. Carl secures his boss that everything would be set in time. (University of phoenix material 2012) After Memorial Day weekend, two weeks for the orientation training, Carl finds that the applications...
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...Vulnerable Populations in the Workplace Project Patricia Lawson NUR/440-Health Assessment and Promotion for Vulnerable Populations April 11, 2011 Sheila de Vaugh, APRN, BC CBS Evening News correspondent Ben Tracy reported on April 6, 2011 that teenage drinking and drug use has increased by 22% and that 71% of all teenagers have had a drink of alcohol before finishing high school. Most teenagers believe that smoking marijuana is not a big deal and that parents and society opposed cigarette smoking more (Tracy, 2011). Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, and Anna Nicole Smith overshadow the issue of prescription drug abuse when every day people are experiencing the same outcomes. Emergency room (ER) nurses are the frontline in treatment of individuals suffering from addiction, withdrawal, and overdose. Still, many doctors and nurses have become hardened because of the belief that patients are drug seeking, which leads to poor management of pain and increased disparity accessing health care. In this paper I will present demographics on prescription drug abuse, issues of cultural competence and sensitivity, and strategies nurses can use to alleviate health consequences for this vulnerable group. Finally, I will conclude by presenting a brochure that ER nurses can use to identify patients at risk for substance abuse and to assess for early referral to treatment. Consequently, looking at the big picture can help health care providers...
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