NCJ Number
119447
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 56 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1989) Pages: 65-71
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires that contractors and grantees doing business with the Federal Government in excess of $25,000 must establish policies prohibiting the use, sale, distribution, or trafficking of controlled substances in the workplace.
Abstract
The law requires employers to establish and maintain a drug awareness and education program for employees. The contractor or grantee must sign a compliance form as a condition of the contract or grant to assure the Federal agency that required policies and procedures are in place and maintained throughout the workplace. Many State, county, and local governments, as principal grantees, are covered by the law. Studies on the link between drug use and crime indicate the importance of employee involvement in drug control efforts. When employers and employees recognize there is an economic price associated with illegal drug use, such as the loss of a contract, grant, or job, the demand for drugs may be reduced. Further, the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates a link between drug use and higher job turnover, absenteeism, lowered work performance, declining workplace morale, and liability exposure in the production of goods and the delivery of services. The Drug-Free Workplace Act does not require Federal contractors and grantees to institute employee drug testing programs, although many companies have instituted such programs. It is felt that the law will foster a renewed norm for private and public employees without unreasonably infringing on their privacy.