Alcohol and Drug Testing
Steps to manage a positive drug or alcohol test
Speak with Employsure before commencing drug testing to ensure all employment agreements and policies are in order. It’s important that any testing is performed appropriately, legally and is compliant with the Privacy Act 1993 and the Human Rights Act 1993.
You’ve received a positive alcohol or drug test result for one of your employees – what next?
- medical officer or manager to validate – speak to the employee
- discuss the implications of the results
- discuss options for treatment or rehabilitation
- provide a report indicating the positive test result and future action
Formal counselling should be offered, unless significant factors indicate a reason for immediate dismissal.
If there are repeat positive tests:
- issue a formal warning
- issue a final warning
- dismissal
Are employees who test positive for an alcohol or drug test entitled to time off?
Personal leave policy applies to employees who have tested positive and need time off for treatment or rehabilitation. It is the same procedure as for other illnesses or injuries.
For more information about this difficult subject please call us to speak with an Employsure advisor on 0800 568 012.
About Employsure
Employsure is one of New Zealand’s largest workplace relations advisers to small and medium businesses, with over 5,000 clients. We take the complexity out of workplace legislation to help small business employers protect their business and their people.
