Legal And Ethical Issues Of Workplace Drug Testing

Legal And Ethical Issues Of Workplace Drug Testing

Legal and Ethical Issues of Workplace Drug Testing
Kellie M. Smith
PSY/425
University of Phoenix

Legal and Ethical Issues of Workplace Drug Testing
Legal and ethical issues over drug testing in the workplace have become an increasing concern over the recent years. Arguments for those opposed to drug testing and for those who approve drug testing can be openly heard from both parties. The opposition to drug testing in the workplace believe that a person asked to submit to a drug test whereas employed with an organization is having his civil rights violated. Another of the most common arguments would be that what an employee does on his own time outside of work is his business and not his employers. The opposition believes that all kinds of personal information that has nothing to do with drugs could be viewed. The risk of potential job loss because information other than drug use could be possible. “Employers are increasingly using drug testing to get rid of staff without having to make redundancy payouts.” (Sievers, 2009)
Those in favor of drug testing in the workforce seem to view the test as a positive step in the right direction to ensuring that the employees hired to do a specific job will in no way be impaired to carrying out their obligations to which the staff is hired for. “Substance abuse in the work place is a real concern that has been associated with absenteeism, work injuries, and high financial costs for industry and society.” (Marchand, Harvey, & Haines, 2009) Employees in favor of drug testing seem to believe it is fair and that he has the right to know if his fellow coworker is able to focus and perform on the job or will he have to make up for his co-workers difference in ability to perform. The most common argument in favor of drug testing in the workplace seems to be that the test is not painful.
The way in which a drug test can be performed on an employee are simple. The employee may be asked to submit to one or all the following: a...