PR&LA Summer 2018

Summer 2018 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters •  13 answer is no to any of these questions, Drug Free Workplace PA (DFWPA) is here to help. We have assisted over 1,000 PA employers develop drug free workplace programs and the best news of all is that our services are free to any organization, business, or facility operating in Pennsylvania. DFWPA also offers organizations a free online policy builder where employers can customize the policy to suit their specific needs. This simple act alone is an invaluable tool for taking the first steps toward a drug free workplace policy. DFWPA was launched from the growing crisis of drug abuse across the nation and more specifically across the state. ACCESS Employee Assistance Program recognized an imminent need for employer awareness of substance use disorders (SUD) in the workplace and how it directly correlates to the health and wellness of employees. A solid commitment to a drug free workplace, where employers, supervisors, and employees are cognizant of the expectations of the policy, increases productivity and customer satisfaction directly affecting—you guessed it—the bottom line. DFWPA makes adopting this policy not only simple and free, but we will train your entire staff, which will increase your return on investment by 600 to 1,200 percent. DFWPA operates under state grant funding through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. We serve as a beautiful example of your taxpayer dollars at work. There is no cost to the employer for any core trainings we offer in the following areas: Creating a Drug Free Workplace, Supervisor Training, Reasonable Suspicion, Employee Training, Employee Assistance Program Training, PA Department of Transportation mandated training, and Medical Marijuana in the Workplace. DFWPA will travel right to your doorstep at a predetermined date and time that is most convenient to your business’ hours to conduct onsite training, or we offer any of our trainings in an online format as well. Our goal is to leave you with the tools necessary to begin creating your own drug free workplace and feeling confident in doing so. Of course when introducing any type of amendment in workplace policy, there can be upheaval and resistance. DFWPA addresses several fundamental areas where employers and supervisors are faced with the most challenges when initiating change, and we offer supervisors a vast number of resources to combat these challenges. Generally, supervisors find implementing reasonable suspicion of drug abuse toward subordinate employees the toughest. Employers continuously ask for training geared toward best practices from the field in recognizing the signs and symptoms of an employee in trouble. We also provide downloadable documents and step-by-step instructions for following the reasonable suspicion process. We have prepared readable scripts and observable behavior checklists for supervisors needing assistance enforcing reasonable suspicion tactics. During our onsite training, we utilize real case scenarios and role playing so that supervisors get comfortable with the process of following these guidelines. Finally, an area we find more common than not, is that of supervisors and fellow employees enabling the person in question, which ultimately leads to a heightened situation that only becomes worse for both the employer and the employee. In our presentations we reiterate the importance of interceding the problem in its earliest stages so as to avoid negative outcomes or employee termination. There are two key initiatives DFWPA focuses on when educating employers on how to implement a drug free workplace: 1) Addressing and sending a clear message of what is prohibited in the workplace and 2) Encouraging employees to voluntarily seek confidential help related to a drug or alcohol problem. Simply stating up front that you enforce a drug free workplace policy can deter alcohol or drug misusers from applying for your positions; which in turn, protects the safety of your employees and the interests of your business. It will also direct existing employees toward resources when they are ready to seek help. DFWPA offers employers of any sized venue a vast number of trainings to put them in the driver’s seats when an incident does Why Does it Matter if People Use Drugs Recreationally? Small and medium-sized organizations, where drug testing policies and programs are generally not in place, employ approximately 80% of the US workforce. All Drug Users  Employed Drug Users  Unemployed Drug Users Source: Working Partners for an Alcohol and Drug- Free Workplace and US Department of Labor 23% 73% ➔