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Alcohol and drug misuse

Some employers reserve the right to carry out random drug and alcohol tests on employees, particularly in safety-critical industries.

Employers that wish to test staff for drugs and alcohol should clearly and unambiguously reserve the right to do so in their contracts of employment. There should also be in place a clear policy on drug and alcohol testing, setting out when and how testing will be carried out, who will carry out the testing and what will be done with the results of any tests.


    • Fit for Work
    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Sickness absence management

    Alcohol deaths in the UK at all-time high, as charity urges new approach

    by Nic Paton 10 Feb 2025
    by Nic Paton 10 Feb 2025

    Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK have reached an all-time high, official figures have shown, with a charity calling for a...

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Data protection
    • Discipline

    Top 10 HR questions January 2025: TUPE employee information

    by Brightmine 4 Feb 2025
    by Brightmine 4 Feb 2025

    January 2025's top 10 HR questions include FAQs ion TUPE, severe weather, notice periods, and alcohol or drug misuse

    • Fit for Work
    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Health and safety

    Warning of ‘catastrophic’ rise in alcohol deaths in England

    by Nic Paton 20 Dec 2024
    by Nic Paton 20 Dec 2024

    There has been “a catastrophic” 42% rise in deaths from alcohol in England in the past four years, a charity...

    • Sexual harassment
    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Bullying and harassment

    Office Christmas parties feature in fewer tribunal cases

    by Adam McCulloch 28 Nov 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 28 Nov 2024

    Despite fewer parties leading to tribunal claims, there are concerns that the Worker Protection Act 2023 could lead to a spike in tribunal cases.

    • Fit for Work
    • Anxiety
    • Alcohol and drug misuse

    Scotland still struggling with stigmatisation of severe mental illness – poll

    by Nic Paton 15 Nov 2024
    by Nic Paton 15 Nov 2024

    Nearly three-quarters of Scots (72%) feel there is a problem with stigmatisation of severe mental illness in the country, research...

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Health and safety
    • Latest News

    Addiction: Supporting employees with alcohol and drug issues

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 2 Oct 2024
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 2 Oct 2024

    Kavitha Sivasubramaniam looks at how employers can identify and support staff who may be struggling with alcohol and drug addiction.

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Fit for Work
    • Sickness absence management

    Understanding alcohol ‘sensitisation’ and its impact in the workplace

    by Fiona Peacock 24 Sep 2024
    by Fiona Peacock 24 Sep 2024

    Recovering addict turned therapist Fiona Peacock explains the dangers of alcohol ‘sensitisation’ in the workplace.
    As an addiction therapist as...

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Fit for Work
    • Disability

    One in 10 with chronic pain at risk of opioid dependency

    by Nic Paton 14 Aug 2024
    by Nic Paton 14 Aug 2024

    As many as one in 10 adults prescribed opioids for chronic pain will go on to experience opioid dependency or...

    • Fit for Work
    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Occupational Health

    Alcohol harm costing England £27bn a year

    by Nic Paton 21 May 2024
    by Nic Paton 21 May 2024

    Alcohol harm costs England £27.4bn a year, and this cost has risen 40% since 2003.

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
    • Occupational Health

    Call for action over ‘alarming’ Scotland drink-related deaths

    by Nic Paton 30 Apr 2024
    by Nic Paton 30 Apr 2024

    The rate of drink-related deaths in Scotland is still the highest in the UK, official figures on alcohol and health have shown.

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Fit for Work
    • Sickness absence management

    Sickness absence barely improves since pandemic

    by Nic Paton 26 Jan 2024
    by Nic Paton 26 Jan 2024

    Workplaces are facing “a perfect storm” when it comes to wellbeing at work, with sickness absence having barely improved since the pandemic.

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Occupational Health

    Dame Carol Black and Dr Shriti Pattani recognised in New Year’s Honours

    by Nic Paton 2 Jan 2024
    by Nic Paton 2 Jan 2024

    The work of leading figures within occupational health has been celebrated in this year’s New Year’s Honours.
    Professor Dame Carol...

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Case law
    • Health and safety

    Rail worker unfairly dismissed for drinking cocaine tea

    by Rob Moss 20 Nov 2023
    by Rob Moss 20 Nov 2023

    Tribunal finds that Network Rail unfairly dismissed an employee for drinking coca tea but that claimant should receive no compensation.

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Fit for Work
    • Cancer

    Liver disease: NHS mobile screening finds more than 2,000 at-risk cases

    by Nic Paton 30 Oct 2023
    by Nic Paton 30 Oct 2023

    An NHS mobile screening project has identified more than 2,200 people in high-risk communities at risk of liver disease and...

    • Alcohol and drug misuse
    • Fit for Work
    • Cancer

    Scotland struggling to control work-related ill health

    by Nic Paton 22 Sep 2023
    by Nic Paton 22 Sep 2023

    Workers in Scotland are experiencing the greatest increase in work-related ill health in the UK, a damning report by the...

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