Sessions

With recent ballot initiatives passing in several states, more employers are asking how the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana has changed drug-testing policies. At the same time, the growing opioid crisis has resulted in enhanced law enforcement efforts and calls for more treatment resources. Workplaces are not immune from the impact of this crisis as drug use impacts attendance, production and safety. Finally, state and federal drug laws are still not in sync as drug use is legal in some states but still illegal under federal law. As a result, employers need to know if they are required to test, if they should update their policies, and what to do when an employee violates their drug and alcohol policies. This session will review the current state of federal laws on drug testing, compare that to the laws from several states and outline best practices in what can be a complicated area of the law. You will learn:

• Statistics on how wide spread the opioid problem is and its impact on the workplace.
• Legal issues associated with drug testing.
• Suggestions on how to equip managers to identify potential safety issues.
• Best practices on addressing attendance, workplace safety, productivity, discipline, employee assistance program and retention issues.