Drugs Testing Interoffice Memorandum Subject:

¶ … Drugs Testing

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM subject: DRUG TESTING MEMO

Illicit or "recreational" drug use is an irresponsible and potentially dangerous behavior that is damaging to the individual and detrimental to the professional work environment. Several popular drugs cause long-term intellectual impairment and contribute to short-term decline in performance, even when the user refrains from the activity during normal work hours. In certain employment capacities, illicit drug use can significantly increase specific on-site accident risks, and therefore, corporate liability; more generally, it is simply not conducive to optimal productivity of employees.

The principle objection expressed in connection with the proposed implementation of drug testing is that it conflicts with the personal privacy rights of the individual employee. However, the settled legal principle is substantially uniform that workplace drug testing does not infringe upon any recognized right to privacy (Freidman, (2005; Halbert & Ingulli, 2000). Public policy and elements of vicarious civil liability of employers (Schmalleger, 2001) absolutely require that employers whose goods or services could potentially create hazards to the general public scrupulously avoid employing illicit drug users.

Fundamental business principles suggest that illicit drug use is inconsistent with high-quality work performance in general. Employers have a legitimate concern with any private conduct of employees that detracts from their ability to perform their best work.

In our industry, intellectual acuity is crucial to quality performance; the consequences of the illicit use of many popular recreational drugs directly erodes intellectual capacity and productivity, in addition to eroding motivation and productivity (Brecher, 1991).

In that regard, illicit drug use, even during non-working hours, undermines our corporate interests of minimizing mistakes and maximizing output volume. Apart from any other reason, implementation of a drug testing policy is essential to maintaining the highest quality performance and output of all TWI employees, particularly in the prevailing economic climate.

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