A business isn’t run by you alone because you need people and they are a huge portion of your sales. Given this leverage, leaders at work play crucial roles in preventing and discouraging drug abuse among employees.
Though the war on drugs has taken many forms in schools to prevent teens from entertaining ideas of engaging in drug abuse, there hasn’t been much conscious effort among firms. Great leaders care about their members’ holistic growth and find ways to actively support. Here are easy but effective tips to help promote a drug-free workplace.
1. Get to know your employees
Individuals are more prone to invitations for taking drugs during periods of life transitions. For adults, this usually means negative personal events such as divorce or the loss of confidence in their own skills.
While it’s not necessary to know all the details, supervisors and managers should be aware of the different seasons of life for each employee. It allows them to gauge the amount of emotional support every member needs while adapting leadership styles and decisions accordingly to fit unique situations.
2. Provide skills development trainings
Supply your employees with challenge and a sense of purpose. Be an active part of their self-development and encourage them to continuously hone their hard and soft skills from technical know-how to leadership skills.
Give them access to these by having human resources and related departments prepare them or offer support for higher education. Is pursuing a masters’ degree one of your employee’s goals? Offer company financial aid so they can opt for enrollment at a good school.
3. Allow the formation of company clubs for socializing and healthy recreation
Activities such as sports are seen as an effective method for teens to release angst and divert attention from personal struggles. Recent studies report that adults these days consistently experience stress at work and other areas of life.
Supporting recreational activities is a good option to explore as an emotional outlet and distraction for employees while building better relationships between co-workers.
Why not let your workers form a company-recognized photography group wherein members hold trainings, contests and outings? Did your employees share a passion for sports in school? Help them cultivate it by forming different teams and organizing competitions.
3. Use non-invasive ways to conduct drug test
Incorporating these in job screening processes prevent individuals who are already regular drug users from entering your workforce and inducing others to take up the ill habit. Use non-invasive methods such as opting for a hair drug test to meet the company’s objective of screening applicants for drug use while respecting individual rights. Ensure hair drug testing kits are of high quality for fair and accurate results. To further discourage the use of drugs among workers, let current employees undergo drug tests as well.
4. Monitor employee productivity levels
Some of the signs of drug abuse are frequent absenteeism and poor levels of performance. Leaders should refrain from being quick to judge employees exhibiting these as drug users to avoid any bias in evaluating but should immediately investigate possible causes of these factors.
When you’re starting up your business, it doesn’t mean that you also need to prepare the place and the things you need to begin the work. Having a business on your own entitles you gather around individuals that are safe to work with on a regular basis. These simple steps can help you alleviate the situation more by first ensuring your people.