In a sign of growing intolerance against drugs and alcohol in the workplace, wider testing mechanisms are being introduced for workers and beneficiaries. The New Zealand Government is set to introduce new requirements on 15 July whereby a beneficiary will need to test for various forms of drugs and alcohol when applying or training for some jobs. Under the current system, legal issues could arise if those tested felt they were being unfairly targeted.
The changes come amid an overall rise in workplace drug and alcohol testing. While the New Zealand Drug Detection Agency previously carried out drug testing in only 12 employment sectors, its scope has now expanded to 23 – including areas such as finance – with new managers increasingly targeted by the tests. Recently published figures from the agency also show that between 2011 and 2012, alcohol tests rose 32 per cent, with 39,369 carried out last year. Over 90,000 tests are expected this year.
Illegal drugs such cannabis, methamphetamine, opiates, amphetamine, and cocaine are the most commonly looked for. Other, legal prescription drugs are also being tested for, as well as synthetic cannabinoids. Although most tests are urine-based, blood and saliva tests can also be administered. Any work place will now be able to have a drug testing policy, but procedures must be clearly set out.
Critic spoke to a number of Otago students about their opinions on testing in the workplace. “It’s stupid, why should I stop doing things outside of my job just because it has a bad rep?” one responded.
“If drugs affect any type of performance, the employee should not be allowed to perform their job at all,” another student countered. “I wouldn’t want a builder who is going to zone out half way through the day, taking the job twice as long as it should, or the house collapsing … What if a teacher was high on meth? Drugs can be dangerous.”
When asked for comment, one Critic staff member said, “actually, we’re not contractually allowed to endorse drug use in the workplace, so I think it’s safe to say that drugs are a very bad influence in society.”
Weeding Out the Poor Performers
