Barnsley workers to face random drug and alcohol tests
Barnsley Council has approved plans for all of its employees to be subject to drug and alcohol tests at work
Anyone working for Barnsley Council will soon be facing tests at work - to see whether they've been drinking or taking drugs.
Plans were given the go-ahead at a Cabinet meeting today which will see random and targeted drug and alcohol tests will be brought in.
The Council says a number of employees from any group at any level would be randomly selected for testing. If a manager was concerned about a specific employee’s behaviour, or where an incident or near miss took place, specific testing would also apply.
‘The council is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for its employees, customers and visitors,’ the report to Cabinet says.
‘This includes ensuring that employees are fit to carry out their duties safely and effectively in a working environment which is free from alcohol and drugs misuse.
The policy is expected to be introduced immediately. Drug and alcohol awareness training will also be provided to employees, with reminders of what support is available to those who come forward.
Cllr Alan Gardiner, Cabinet spokesperson for Corporate Services, said “the misuse of alcohol or drugs could affect not only an employee’s work performance, but also their health and personal life.
"As a council we are committed to protecting the health of our staff and we will operate a zero-tolerance policy on the abuse of drugs or alcohol that will impact on an employee during the working day.”
All costs will be funded from existing council budgets.
“Alcohol in particular has a massive impact on productivity”, says Jan Mayor from Sheffield Alcohol Support Service says
“In some estimates the UK economy loses £7.6bn a year just in lost productivity due to alcohol. That may be people drinking in the workplace, but coming into work a little bit worse for wear.
“We need our council staff to work as efficiently as possible, particularly in a time of austerity and cuts.”
Jan warns it has to be done in the right way though:
“It’s really important that it’s in a package that’s supportive. Because there’s much more risk to society as a whole if we just kick people out of their jobs. If we can catch people BEFORE the drinking’s a problem, they can become productive members of staff again.
“It’s a terrible idea of it’s done in a purely punitive way. But if it’s done in a sensitive way, it can really be a win-win.”