A toolkit has recently been published by Public Health England and Business in the Community in order to aid to employers with substance abuse in the workplace. The toolkit was published as a result of research showing that employee absence and lack of productivity as a result of substance misuse cost employers £5.3 billion.
Another survey by the Home Office concluded that nearly 9% of those aged 16-59 took a form of drugs in the year prior to the survey being taken.
The toolkit provides assistance to help employers deal with substance misuse in the workplace in following ways:
- Leadership- ensuring that adequate training has been provided to combat substance misuse.
- Provide reasonable adjustments for staff that are required to take time off as a result of substance misuse.
- Encourage employees to consider whether their consumption is putting their health at risk.
Link:https://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/sites/default/files/bitc_phe_drugs_alcohol_tobacco_toolkit_-_final.pdf
