Forum Brief: Workplace drug testing

A Joseph Rowntree Foundation-funded inquiry has predicted that workplace drug testing could increase dramatically in the UK and become a fact of everyday working life. 

Government Response: Home Office

A Home Office spokesman said: "The government welcomes the publication of the report 'Drug testing in the workplace' by the independent inquiry into drug testing at work.

"This report provides a useful overview of some of the issues and questions surrounding the role of testing in workplace management of drug and alcohol problems,
and makes several recommendations, some of which relate to the role of the government in advising companies how to use this technology.

"It is for each company to decide for themselves whether drug testing has value for their workplace.

"The role of drug testing in the workplace is affected by many factors that this report identifies and which mean that this is a decision for companies themselves to decide upon.

"As the report outlines, there are substantial limitations in the technical usefulness of testing in work settings.

"We fully support the report's recommendations that if testing is to be used it is in the context of much broader and more comprehensive programmes of staff management and support which are needed."

Forum Response: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Ruth Evans, chair of the inquiry, said: "We know that testing is useful in specific safety critical and sensitive industries, however it is a quantum leap for employers outside of these sectors to advocate drug testing of their staff.

"We are in danger of slipping into a situation where employers are taking on a quasi-policing role with respect to the private lives of their staff.

"We understand that drug misuse is a matter of concern throughout society, but drug testing is no panacea.

"The reality is that better management practices are a more worthwhile investment of time and money than drug testing.

"This is also about getting the work-life balance right and understanding that unhealthy and stressful work environments contribute to the abuse of drugs and alcohol."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

Geraint Day, health policy analyst at the Institute of Directors, said: "We actually surveyed IoD members on this topic in 2001. The findings indicated that only a minority (six per cent) conducted drugs tests routinely.

"We know that in enterprises where safety of employees, their colleagues or others could be at risk if certain drugs were used by employees, that testing for drugs would be more prevalent.

"This could include transport, some Ministry of Defence occupations and nuclear power, for example.

"Interestingly, our survey had similar findings to that of the inquiry in that 80 per cent of directors surveyed in 2001 would be prepared to countenance testing of employees for drug use if it could affect ability to do the job.

"Even then that would be mainly if there were concerns about specific employees (60 per cent of respondents)."