Alcohol, Drugs, Violence and Obesity in the Workplace

1. 1

   More than three in four small-business owners have a drug and alcohol policy. Those employing 20 or more people are substantially more likely to have one (92%) than are those who employ fewer than 10 (73%).

2. 2

   About 35 percent of small employers say that they typically check a potential employee’s background for drug and/or alcohol abuse prior to employment.

3. 3

   Drug testing occurs infrequently in small enterprises. Eight percent of small employers have required one or more employees to take a drug/alcohol test in the last three years. The most frequent triggers for tests are random checks (76% of those testing) and a new hire (70%).

4. 4

   The preponderance of drug/alcohol testing occurs because small employers find it advisable or necessary to do (59%). However, 28 percent say government effectively forces them to conduct tests through such mechanisms as regulations and contract compliance. Another 15 percent claim that insurers either require them or provide financial incentives to test.

5. 5

   Comparatively few small employers express serious concern over drug, including marijuana, and/or alcohol abuse among their employees. Substantially fewer than one in 10 say either is a constant concern. Another 11-15 percent say that it is an occasional concern. Almost six in 10 say that they are never a concern.

6. 6

   Fourteen (14) percent of small employers report one or more incidents in the last three years where they were required to warn, counsel, discipline or fire at least one employee for drug and/or alcohol-related incidents. The incidents were split almost equally between drugs and alcohol. Forty-one (41) percent of the time, it was the third (or more) instance that the small employer had addressed the situation. The ultimate resolution of the issue saw the employee get fired in 58 percent of cases.

7. 7

   Violence is rare in small businesses. In the last three years, 2 percent have had an employee physically accosted on the job. Less than 1 percent have had one of their employees, while on the job, physically accost someone else.

8. 8

   By more than a 2 - 1 margin, small employers believe that obesity, or an excessively overweight condition, among employees is a personal matter that employers should dismiss rather than a business matter requiring their active involvement.

9. 9

   Small employers attribute only about 6 percent of recent workers’ compensation or disability claims to obesity and/or conditions related to excess weight. Few indicate that they have been forced to rearrange or lighten duties for one or more employees due to employee weight-related conditions.

10. 10

    Just 7 percent say that they are very concerned that obesity or excess weight among employees is driving up their insurance costs. Another 15 percent are somewhat concerned, though the majority are not. Meanwhile, 5 percent indicate that an insurer has provided them information about what small employers can do to minimize employee weight-related health problems.

Volume 4, Issue 3, 2004
ISSN 1534-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.
NFIB Research Foundation

• 2Do you typically check a potential employee’s background for drug or alcohol abuse prior to hiring him or her? Top 100
• 3In the last three years, have you EVER required one or more employees to take a drug test or a breathalyzer to detect alcohol? Top 100
• 9In the last three years, have one or more of your employees been assaulted or physically accosted while on the job? Top 100
• 1Do you have a written policy, available to employees, regarding employee use of drugs and alcohol?
• 1aIf not written, do you have a policy regarding the use of drugs and alcohol by employees that you verbally tell them about when they are hired?
• 4A(circumstances of drug/alcohol test) Did you require such tests following a serious work-related accident?
• 4B(circumstances of drug/alcohol test) Did you require such tests when there was a reasonable suspicion of use?
• 4C(circumstances of drug/alcohol test) Did you require such tests at the time of hiring?
• 4D(circumstances of drug/alcohol test) Did you require such tests for random checks?
• 5Do you typically conduct these tests because the government requires you to do so, your insurer requires or gives you incentives to do so, or because you believe it is necessary?
• 6In your business, is employee abuse of alcohol and its consequences a constant concern, an occasional concern, an unusual concern, or never a concern?
• 7In your business, is employee abuse of drugs, including marijuana, and its consequences a constant concern, an occasional concern, an unusual concern, or never a concern?
• 8During the last three years, have you or a supervisor needed to counsel, warn, discipline or fire one or more employees for the unauthorized use or abuse of drugs or alcohol?
• 8aWas the problem with alcohol, drugs, or both?
• 8bWas it the first time you took up the problem with the employee, the second time, or more than the second time?
• 8cWhat best describes the current disposition of the problem? Has the employee been:?
• 10In the last three years, has one or more of your employees assaulted or physically accosted someone else while on the job?
• 11Do you believe that substantial excess weight, or obesity, among employees is a business issue requiring the active interest of employers, or a personal issue requiring employers to disregard possible employee weight problems? Do you believe that strongly or not so strongly?
• 12During the last three years, how many of your employees in total have filed a disability or workers’ compensation claim?
• 12aHow many of those claims were related to an employee’s substantial excess weight or weight-related condition?
• 13How many of your current employees do you believe have had their job performance adversely affected by substantial excess weight or a weight-related condition?
• 14During the last three years, have you changed or reduced job duties for one or more employees due to an employee’s substantial excess weight or weight-related condition?
• 15Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned that substantial excess weight and weight-related health conditions among your employees are driving up your insurance costs?
• 16Has an insurer talked to you or provided you information about what you as a small employer can do to help your employees minimize weight problems?