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.
Excess alcohol consumption can slash life expectancy by 30 minutes per glass
Every glass of wine or pint of beer over the daily recommended limit could shorten your life by 30 minutes,...
Why it’s not smart to take smart drugs to boost performance at work
Smart drugs have been pushed as a way to improve workplace performance, but what are the risks and do the...
Public Health England campaign aims to boost employee health in small businesses
Public Health England (PHE) has launched an initiative to support small businesses to improve work health.
It has linked up...
Does workplace health promotion work? A review of the evidence
Questions raised about the quality of studies reporting return on investment from workplace health promotion initiatives make it worth examining...
Workplace wellbeing strategies linked to HR goals are on the rise
Higher numbers of employers have adopted workplace wellbeing strategies in the past year than in previous years and they are...
GPs gain support for mental ill-health and addiction
A new service designed to offer support to GPs and GP trainees suffering from mental ill health and addiction has...
Liquid lunches: can an employer stop staff drinking during working hours?
Employees at Lloyd’s of London have been banned from drinking alcohol during the working day, it has been reported.
Alcohol...
How the “codeine holiday” could affect your workplace
PROMOTED | Did you know that a trend has been gradually developing among some employees of firms which have implemented...
Government report shows links between work and drug and alcohol addiction
The Government’s long-awaited review into the links between work and addiction was published in December.
The review by Dame Carol...
Alcohol and drugs workplace policy: new BMA guidance on job applicants
The British Medical Association has updated its guidance on alcohol and drugs workplace policies, including a new chapter on job...
Employee substance misuse: five workplace tips
Drug and alcohol misuse has a big impact on the workplace, with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence...
Employers’ guide to Euro 2016: six ways to avoid an own goal
How to make Euro 2016 work for you: the employers' guide to managing absence, avoiding discrimination and maintaining productivity during this summer's football...
Fair dismissal of line manager who refused workplace drug test
An employment tribunal rejected an unfair dismissal claim by a line manager who was sacked when he refused to take...
Halloween in the workplace: five legal issues to scare employers
Halloween is becoming an increasingly extravagant and high-profile event in the UK, having traditionally lagged behind US celebrations each October....
Tribunal watch: Unfair dismissal for smelling of alcohol at work
An employment tribunal has held that an NHS worker was unfairly dismissed after a colleague reported him for smelling of...
