Drug use of any kind can be detrimental to your team’s performance and your workplace , but it’s not always obvious at first. Drugs can cause your employees to act erratically and create problems for everyone else on the team, which is bad for the individual, the team, and the business itself. Read ahead to learn about how different drugs can affect employee performance.
Marijuana
The legalization of marijuana in many states around the country has put some employers in a tricky spot. Even if the drug isn’t illegal in your state, you still shouldn’t have employees showing up to work while experiencing its effects. In States that recreational and medical marijuana are allowed employers still have rights to restrict its use among their employees. Although many people consider the plant less harmful than other drugs, studies have shown that the impairing effects of marijuana last longer than other drugs. It has real effects on both physical and mental traits. It can impair your visual tracking, slow your reaction time and thinking, reduce your concentration, inhibit your motivation and make you less productive on the job, which puts colleagues and management at a disadvantage themselves.
Amphetamines
The truck driving industry used to be associated with amphetamines, because these kinds of drugs help you focus and stay up for long hours. Unfortunately, there are also dangerous drawbacks. Amphetamines are addictive and can also have negative effects on your attention, especially if the drug is wearing off. The euphoric stimulation caused by amphetamine use increases impulsive and risk taking behaviors including bizarre and violent acts.
Alcohol
We know that alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery. The job doesn’t need to require either of these tasks for it to be a bad idea to work under the influence. Alcohol delays your reaction time, changes your mood, and even affects your judgement in a significant way. Employees with alcohol problems might become easily distracted, offend their coworkers, or fail to show up to work at all.
Oschmann Employee Screening Services is a national provider of drug & alcohol testing and employee background check services with offices in Tucson, AZ and Phoenix, AZ. If you need drug testing in Arizona, please call us at (800) 224-8532 or browse our website.
