Prevent Violence In The Workplace With Pre-Employment Screening

Pre-employment Drug Screening-5                                                                                       WC Blog 519
Drug Testing – 5


Prevent Violence In The Workplace With Pre-Employment Screening

     Violence in the workplace seems to be a growing concern so it is important to take steps to make the job site as safe as possible and it may include pre-employment drug screening. Having worked in the U.S. Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist and in Retail Loss Prevention as an associate and a manager for about 17 years I have been witness to violence in the workplace. I have encountered criminals who were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. I have had to contend with employees who were suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs and even prescription narcotics. I have partnered with human resources on incidents in which an employee was involved in an accident with equipment (fortunately no one was injured in that situation). Retail can be difficult enough with encounters between staff and customers that may get heated; add alcohol or drugs to the mix and it can get explosive. While retailers can’t control the state in which customers enter the building they can control their staff members to a certain extent.  Drug testing is one way that an owner or manager can minimize the chance that the people they hire will not be under the influence while working in a business.

     Pre-employment drug screening is completed during the interview/hiring process of a prospective worker. The applicant completes all of the usual paperwork and if they become a top candidate for a job the employer can require a drug testing. This is usually done through a third-party and at a testing site that specializes in obtaining a sample from the candidate and securing it so it can’t be tampered with by anyone. The sample is tested and results shared with the employer. When results show there are drugs in the system of the candidate the employer can choose not to hire the person. This process of eliminating job seekers who present a potential risk through their drug activities can save an owner a lot of grief in the future. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) CEO, Bill Bregar determined that the risk posed by intoxicated employees to customers, co-workers and themselves is significant enough that he wanted to help retailers reduce their risk-exposure by offering drug testing through his company. Profitable stores require a combination of increased sales, theft reduction and reduction in accidents. Providing pre-employment drug screening is another tool LPSI has added to its’ arsenal to help business owners become successful.

      If you don’t think there is a need to check out your job candidates before hiring them through pre-employment drug screening (not to mention background checks also offered by LPSI) here are a couple of news stories I would like you to read:
• From darientimes.com, Jan 3, 2018, by Kevin Webb, “Darien Whole Foods employee charged with assaulting disabled coworker and customer”. According to the story the employee was accused of assaulting two other employees. Police reported he was combative, acting erratically and screaming incoherently. He later admitted he had been using marijuana laced with PCP.
• From the bostonglobe.com, Jan. 2, 2018 by Travis Andersen, “Construction worker charged with assaulting colleague at Copley job site”, “A 56 year-old construction worker will head to court on Wednesday to face charges of assaulting a co-worker who might have been intoxicated at a Boston job site in May…”
• Jun 16, 2017 in enterprisepub.com, “Police: Carnival employee hits co-worker with a hatchet”, by Leanna Ellis. The article reports that the victim who was intoxicated was attacked by a co-worker with a hatchet. The co-worker was believed to be intoxicated also. They were fighting over a $5 debt.
Drugs and alcohol don’t have any place within your company. They can lead to verbal abuse, physical and even sexual assaults. Allowing someone to work for you who may have a drug or alcohol addiction is only opening yourself up to problems. 

      In addition to the potential fighting and assaults that can transpire have you thought about the possible accidents that can happen? I recall an employee who almost fell from a ladder and we had to take him for a drug test. That’s right, you can’t allow someone you suspect of being intoxicated to drive themselves to a testing site or home. If they are under the influence and get in an accident you become liable in the incident. If that employee had been injured we could have been liable in that situation as well.

     While running post-accident and random drug testing is helpful in trying to minimize your liability in matters involving alcohol and drugs pre-employment drug screening is your best option. Prevent problems before they can poison your establishment. You can save a lot of time, money and headaches in the process.
For more information about pre-employment drug screening contact us or call 1.770.426.0547      

      

Violence in the workplace seems to be a growing concern so it is important to take steps to make the job site as safe as possible and it may include pre-employment drug screening. Having worked in the U.S. Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist and in Retail Loss Prevention as an associate and a manager for about 17 years I have been witness to violence in the workplace. I have encountered criminals who were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. I have had to contend with employees who were suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs and even prescription narcotics. I have partnered with human resources on incidents in which an employee was involved in an accident with equipment (fortunately no one was injured in that situation). Retail can be difficult enough with encounters between staff and customers that may get heated; add alcohol or drugs to the mix and it can get explosive. While retailers can’t control the state in which customers enter the building they can control their staff members to a certain extent.  Drug testing is one way that an owner or manager can minimize the chance that the people they hire will not be under the influence while working in a business.
     

Pre-employment drug screening is completed during the interview/hiring process of a prospective worker. The applicant completes all of the usual paperwork and if they become a top candidate for a job the employer can require a drug testing. This is usually done through a third-party and at a testing site that specializes in obtaining a sample from the candidate and securing it so it can’t be tampered with by anyone. The sample is tested and results shared with the employer. When results show there are drugs in the system of the candidate the employer can choose not to hire the person. This process of eliminating job seekers who present a potential risk through their drug activities can save an owner a lot of grief in the future. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) CEO, Bill Bregar determined that the risk posed by intoxicated employees to customers, co-workers and themselves is significant enough that he wanted to help retailers reduce their risk-exposure by offering drug testing through his company. Profitable stores require a combination of increased sales, theft reduction and reduction in accidents. Providing pre-employment drug screening is another tool LPSI has added to its’ arsenal to help business owners become successful.
     

If you don’t think there is a need to check out your job candidates before hiring them through pre-employment drug screening (not to mention background checks also offered by LPSI) here are a couple of news stories I would like you to read:

• From darientimes.com, Jan 3, 2018, by Kevin Webb, “Darien Whole Foods employee charged with assaulting disabled coworker and customer”. According to the story the employee was accused of assaulting two other employees. Police reported he was combative, acting erratically and screaming incoherently. He later admitted he had been using marijuana laced with PCP.

• From the bostonglobe.com, Jan. 2, 2018 by Travis Andersen, “Construction worker charged with assaulting colleague at Copley job site”, “A 56 year-old construction worker will head to court on Wednesday to face charges of assaulting a co-worker who might have been intoxicated at a Boston job site in May…”

• Jun 16, 2017 in enterprisepub.com, “Police: Carnival employee hits co-worker with a hatchet”, by Leanna Ellis. The article reports that the victim who was intoxicated was attacked by a co-worker with a hatchet. The co-worker was believed to be intoxicated also. They were fighting over a $5 debt.

Drugs and alcohol don’t have any place within your company. They can lead to verbal abuse, physical and even sexual assaults. Allowing someone to work for you who may have a drug or alcohol addiction is only opening yourself up to problems. 
     

In addition to the potential fighting and assaults that can transpire have you thought about the possible accidents that can happen? I recall an employee who almost fell from a ladder and we had to take him for a drug test. That’s right, you can’t allow someone you suspect of being intoxicated to drive themselves to a testing site or home. If they are under the influence and get in an accident you become liable in the incident. If that employee had been injured we could have been liable in that situation as well.
     

While running post-accident and random drug testing is helpful in trying to minimize your liability in matters involving alcohol and drugs pre-employment drug screening is your best option. Prevent problems before they can poison your establishment. You can save a lot of time, money and headaches in the process.

For more information about pre-employment drug screening contact us or call 1.770.426.0547