Could drug testing start an unfair dismissal debate?

Employers are starting to introduce random drug testing to avoid paying redundancy payments to staff who fail the tests.  Whilst it is quite within an employer's rights to carry out testing, the increase in this practice is causing concern for the national charity, Release.

Release, the national centre for drugs and drugs law, has reported a five-fold increase in the number of calls to its drugs helpline in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period last year. In total, 145 calls relating to drugs at work were received, most of them from employees who work in companies that had not previously implemented drug testing for staff.  Any employee that tests positive can be sacked without a redundancy payment.

The debate should examine why employees are turning more and more to drugs and alcohol to alleaviate their work related stress.  In a  review in the use of drug testing at work, an independent body stated that  there is “no justification for it as a means of policing the private behaviour of employees, or of improving performance and productivity”.

Managing restructures and redundancies in a decisive yet humane way will ensure the longevity of a company rather than resorting to cheap tactics.  Employees who survive the cull have long memories and will vote with their feet as soon as the market picks up.

Recrion is a people management specialist and works with employers and their employees to bring about a positive outcome to restructuring.  Visit www.recrion.co.uk or call 01780 484910 to find out more.