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Key Takeaways:
- Substance use, including alcohol and cannabis, among remote workers remains a concern for employers.
- Remote employees are not exempt from workplace drug testing policies.
- Employers are now seeking more efficient, fair, and non-invasive ways of conducting drug tests.
- Companies are adapting their testing methods to the changing landscape of laws, particularly those related to cannabis.
- The advent of cannabis breathalyzers provides an innovative and fair solution for employers and employees alike.
Substance Use among Remote Workers: The Facts and Figures
Over the past few years, remote work has been embraced by numerous organizations and workers alike, providing a more flexible and convenient work setup. However, this new mode of work is not without its challenges. A study from an Arizona-based mental health treatment center reports that one in five American remote workers admit to using alcohol, cannabis, or other recreational drugs during work hours. Among cannabis users, 52% reported an increase in their consumption during the pandemic.
As Nina M. French, President of Employer and Law Enforcement Solutions at Hound Labs, Inc., points out, substance use at work presents risks that extend far beyond physical harm. It also poses potential threats to a company’s financial stability, productivity, customer satisfaction, and data security.
The Evolution of Workplace Drug Testing Policies
The push for drug testing in the workplace has been in place since 1991, initially aimed at employees in safety-sensitive roles. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) made further recommendations in 1992, leading to a broader implementation of drug testing across various industries. Today, tens of millions of workplace drug tests are performed in the U.S. annually for different purposes – onboarding, random checks, post-incident, and reasonable suspicion.
The Reality of Drug Testing for Remote Employees
Despite the rise of remote work, the obligation for employee drug testing remains. As French emphasizes, the principles of fairness and predictability are crucial for an effective drug testing policy. A uniform policy is necessary to maintain fairness among all employees, regardless of their work location.
Furthermore, every organization’s drug testing program should align with its unique business objectives, ensuring a balance between risk mitigation and fairness. Transparency about the objectives of the drug testing program, and the policies designed to support those goals, is crucial for its success.
The Covid-19 Impact on Workplace Drug Testing
The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically increased the number of remote employees, presenting unique challenges for employers regarding drug testing. The combination of stress from the pandemic, the increased privacy of remote work, and evolving cannabis laws has prompted many companies to modernize their drug testing methods.
Maintaining Productivity in the Remote Work Era
Traditional drug testing methods, while effective, can be invasive and time-consuming. They often involve offsite collection and laboratory testing, with results taking days or even weeks to process. For remote employees, this process can become even more complicated and inconvenient.
Moreover, conventional cannabis tests can detect usage that occurred weeks or even months prior, which can raise privacy concerns. Employers need a more efficient and fair method that focuses on identifying on-the-job substance use rather than personal choices made outside working hours.
The Future of Drug Testing: The Cannabis Breathalyzer
In response to these concerns, a new solution has emerged: the cannabis breathalyzer. Devices like the HOUND® CANNABIS BREATHALYZER provide an innovative, efficient, and fair way of testing for cannabis use during work hours.
Cannabis breath testing offers several benefits over traditional methods:
- A more limited detection window – It does not detect use days, weeks, or months after impairment subsides.
- Increased privacy – It limits the detection window to the time immediately preceding or during work hours.
- Objective results – Instrument-read results avoid potential for human error during sample analysis.
- Results within minutes – On-site results provide timely information.
- Convenience – Its portability allows for flexible testing options.
- Less mess – Automated sample collection via an enclosed cartridge eliminates the need to handle bodily fluids.
By integrating such technology into their drug testing programs, employers can ensure productivity, mitigate risk, and maintain safety. Moreover, they communicate their commitment to fairness and respect for their employees’ legal rights. After all, the ultimate goals of employers and employees align: productivity, safety, and a positive work environment. With thoughtful and adaptive drug testing policies, these goals can be met, even in the new normal of remote work.
