Ethics-drugs in workplace

Ethics : Drugs in workplace

Employers are faced with many ethical decisions in the conduct of their businesses , while employees are faced with many ethical concerns in protecting their rights to privacy . Controversial issues such as drug-testing , smoking , AIDS and the use of lie detectors all create unfriendly atmosphere in the workplace . Obviously , there are many facets and arguments favoring and contradicting those practices mentioned . But there is no hard and fast rule to these issues . One can only share one 's viewpoints but cannot claim that such are true and right p

As to the question Is drug testing an unwarranted invasion of employee privacy ' Technically , drug testing is not illegal . The law protects the rights of an individual to privacy but court decisions differ on the basis of how strong the reasonable suspicions are . In my opinion , the rights of an individual ends where the rights of another begins . If drug testing is the final answer to the damaging effects of using drugs in the workplace , then it is right to do so . It would not be necessarily an unwarranted invasion of employee privacy so long as careful measures in the conduct of drug test are observed . DesJardins and Duska emphasized that the procedure should observe certain limitations . The employer should consider if , when and under what conditions using a means such as drug testing to obtain that knowledge is justified (as cited in Shaw Barry , 2007 ,

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The following guidelines may be considered careful measures in the conduct of drug testing : 1 ) Employer should only test for drugs that have genuine potential to harm if used in the job . 2 ) Drug test result should not be the basis to discipline or fire someone . 3 ) Employees should have the right to refuse to take a drug test because the results of such tests are inconclusive . 4 ) The management should first establish legitimate suspicions of drug abuse by an employee or work group before conducting drug tests . 5 ) The focus of testing should be improving on-the-job performance rather than reprimanding off-the-job conduct . 6 Employees should be informed of the drug-test procedure or methods , and results obtained from the test . They should also be given the chance to rebut the test findings .7 ) If in any case , an employee 's employment status is going to be affected by the result of the drug test , a confirmatory test should be conducted . 8 ) All tests should be conducted in such a way that the dignity and privacy of the employee are respected and honored

The issue of drug testing versus employee privacy holds a very tough judgement call that would be any employer 's nightmare . Employers have the right to operate their businesses for profit , and the responsibility to provide safe workplaces for their employees without the threat of harm due to drugs . Employees have the right to privacy . Respecting both rights are important if the business is to succeed and the employees are to retain their jobs . I would say creating a...