One drink led to two, and as he pulled into the plant parking lot, he swerved to avoid a light pole and struck a fellow employee. As unwelcome as these scenarios are, they raise liability concerns for employers. That fact is not lost on employers. The American Marketing Association recently conducted a workplace drug testing and abuse survey that found 81 percent of its members test for drugs. Since 1987, drug testing in U.S. corporations has increased by 277 percent, more out of concern for legal liability issues than anything else.
Most companies hire a third party administrator for the test.
Companies should develop a written agreement that details their policy on substance abuse, and then choose a third-party administrator to help enforce it. Outsourcing drug testing services is a task that involves more than taking urine samples, and is fraught with legal ramifications. Because there's no mandatory certification or licensing board for screening services, the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association is a good resource. This voluntary membership body offers certification to its members and provides a list of members by location to employers. Companies should submit a request for proposal to third-party administrators that outlines their needs.