Drug and Alcohol Training Service
Why you need a Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy - Support for Your Company, Staff and Their Families
Having a workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy provides a support mechanism letting staff know what action to take and what support is available if they have a drug or alcohol problem. They will be able to report a problem in confidence without fear of disciplinary action and can access support, counselling and treatment for themselves and their families.
Managerial and Supervisor drug and alcohol training will give confidence in how to support themselves and employees who report problems due to drug or alcohol treatment - like the taking of anti-histamines - or misuse. A manager or supervisor who is aware of a problem is able to take appropriate action and so minimise possible Health and Safety issues or absenteeism.
Colleagues are able to report suspicions that a colleague has a drug or alcohol misuse problem which is affecting their work, in the knowledge that the issue can be dealt with confidentially and positively - without necessarily resulting in disciplinary procedures.
Staff often lose work focus through worry about a family member who has a drug or alcohol misuse problem. A workplace Drug and Alcohol policy will provide a mechanism for receiving professional, confidential advice, counselling and support for both themselves and their family members.
A Drug and Alcohol Policy aims to:
- Prevent drug and alcohol problems by raising awareness of their effects and the impact they can have on the workforce
- Help identify a problem at an early stage to minimise risks to health and safety
- Help recognise drug and alcohol problems as medical conditions and to offer confidential help and support
- Assist managers who have to deal with drug and alcohol-related incidents in the workplace
- Set out clear guidelines for dealing with staff who you know or suspect to have a drug and/or alcohol related problem
- Provide assistance and support to employees with problems, with the aim of integrating them back into the workforce
- Satisfy Health and Safety legislation and EU directives
- Help support employers with the new Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007
About DATS Drug and Alcohol Policies
DATS provides bespoke drug and alcohol workplace policies for individual businesses including:
- Policy Aim/Scope ~ Sets out who the policy apply to. It can include homeworkers, sales teams, company car drivers, people at outlying sites as well as contractors and agency workers
- Definitions ~ Clear and unambiguous terms ensuring that everyone knows what the policy term are
- Responsibilities ~ whilst everyone has responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act, different roles will have different responsibilities
- Discipline ~ the policy ensures that everyone knows what is expected of them and what will and will not be tolerated
- Help and Support ~ perhaps the most important section of all, as it confirms how employees can access free, local, confidential help and support
If you do not have a workplace policy in place, you risk increased costs, legal proceedings and lost business:
- Measurable costs: increased sickness; poor productivity and poor quality of work, losing valuable orders and custom - many companies now insist on their link companies having a drugs and alcohol policy in place
- Hidden costs: diverted managerial time; key staff not being equipped to deal with issues as they arise or being confused about company rules and procedures; friction among workforce and staff turnover
- Other costs: disciplinary actions; culpability under the new Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007; legal actions and Health & Safety implications - far more likely to arise if an employee is dismissed or disciplined due to drug or alcohol misuse and there is no clear policy in place
For More Information.....
Contact Brian Bingham, Drug and Alcohol Training Service on 01454 852 572 or email