Why Have a Drug-Free Workplace?

On August 28, 1991, a New York subway operator crashed his train near a station in lower Manhattan. Five people were killed and 215 others were injured. The operator admitted that he had been drinking prior to the crash. After the crash his blood alcohol content was .21, over twice the legal limit in New York.

A young electrician had just returned from attending a marriage class with his fiancé. He stepped out of his truck and was struck and killed by a car speeding down the wrong side of the street. When police caught the driver, they discovered that he was drunk. The driver, a 27-year-old engineer, had a history of drunk driving and had been driving without a license since it was revoked in 1986.

"I never thought I’d become addicted to drugs! My husband and I tried cocaine at a party 3 years ago. Within 2 months we were using $3,000 worth of crack a month. To get enough money to support our habit, we cooked crack at home and my husband sold it on the street. We would come home from work and smoke until 2 or 3 a.m. When I got to work I’d spend half an hour in the bathroom pulling myself together. It was my boss who finally confronted me, pointed out the problems I was having on the job, and suggested that I seek help."

"Before I stopped drinking I never went any place where alcohol wasn’t served. I didn’t go to the movies or out with friends. I always seemed to have problems with people at work, and I couldn’t wait to get home so that I could have my first drink of the evening. I knew I was hurting the people I cared about, but I didn’t want to admit that I had a problem. One night a year ago, my daughter had a party for a group of her high school friends. I got drunk, made a fool of myself, and embarrassed my daughter. That was a Friday evening. On Monday I checked myself into a treatment center. Being sober has really changed my life: I have more friends, I spend time with my children, and I get along better with my coworkers."

Fort Myers Auto Truck Plaza, Fort Myers, Florida

The people who run Fort Myers Auto Truck Plaza take pride in the service they provide to the truckers who stop there. When the owners decided to have a drug-free workplace policy, they developed a policy they could be proud of. They told their employees and customers about the policy and posted it where it could be seen by everyone. Employees think the policy is a great idea. They said they feel safer working in a drug-free workplace. The company has teenage employees, and their parents have said they wouldn’t want their children working for a company that didn’t have a drug-free workplace policy.

Zingerman’s Deli, Ann Arbor, Michigan

When Zingerman’s hires a new employee, the owners send out a clear message: "We care about your health and well-being." Zingerman’s believes in providing a supportive place to work. They have an employee assistance program (EAP) that provides help to employees with problems that affect their work -- from a family crisis to an alcohol or other drug abuse problem. This makes Zingerman’s a great place to work. The owners have also found that it’s good for business. Zingerman’s employee turnover rate is lower than the industry’s average, and they have many long-term employees who are loyal to the company. The Zingerman approach is summed up best by the words of an employee who got help: "Thank you for helping me to live a sober life. It’s great to work for people who are willing to make a difference."

"It really concerns me when I hear talk about people using drugs or alcohol at work. If they are using drugs at work, they may be high when they are driving to or from work. And I'm out there on the road with them. . ."

"Why should it cost me because he's doing drugs. When he gets out there and has a wreck . . . hey, it costs me because it costs my insurance . . . and I have to pay more."

"I never expected to see drugs used at my work. Who wants to go to work and see people taking drugs or working while high on drugs?"

"I'm not going to work around anybody who can hurt me because they had too much to drink."

"In my business we provide services to customers in their homes. They have to feel sure that we're dependable and trustworthy. I think our customers are happier knowing that we have a drug-free workplace policy."

"The idea of drugs at work scares me. I've been operating these machines for years, and I know how dangerous they can be. I'd hate to think that I was working beside someone on drugs."