Drug policy in Medix Production Plant - Assignment Example

Drug policy in Medix Production Plant Introduction Drug policy in Medix Production Plant has provisions that prohibit the employees of the firm from taking drugs while on duty. The firm’s reputation, built over the last 17 years depends on the above policy. However, it has come to the attention of the management that some employees have been breaching this working code. In this report, an elaborate examination on the employees’ view and the management has been evaluated. Background of the Problem Since the inception of the Medix Production Plant 17 years ago, the company has been promoting drug abuse free zone. The organization believes that drug administration breaches the ethics of the work. Largely, the organization should lead through example. Thus, the employees of the company have been subject to the drug free zone policy. The management of the organization has realized that some employees have contravened the drug use policy. This situation necessitated the research on the act. The activity brought both white collar and blue-collar employees on board, charged with the duty to answer to a question. The intention was to receive the employees view in response to the issues. At the same time, the organization has been treading carefully on this matter because it does not wish to taint its reputation. The organization recognizes the societal expectation and the values that which it should demonstrate. Balancing the demands of the employees and the reputation of the company has been a concern that the administration has sought to address. Conversely, the approach that the company anticipates to take is an inclusive approach to issue. Statement of the problem The data collected from the company code of operation reveals that the company promotes zero tolerance to employees who use drugs especially in the company premises. Presently, the company has been contemplating to consider hiring staffs that do not use drugs. The problem scenario in the company is as follows. Illicit use of drugs in the company premises is on the increase. The increasing level of drug use in the company premises poses the following challenges to the company. First, it leads to low work output. Employees working under the influence of the drugs are prone to mistakes. Conversely, the company has been failing to meet its targets. Second, the drug abuse in the company premises contravenes the work ethics. The situation predisposes the company’s management and the workers in conflict. The fear is that when the company implements it working code, it is likely to lose workers or engage in court cases with the workers union. The company has observed that prolonged period of drug abuse in the company premises would make the workers to believe that the act does not contravene the company’s operation codes. The trend would expose the company to external attack especially from authority. Some employees show occasional abuse of drugs in the company’s premises. While the occasional uses may not view their conduct as a vice, it exposes the company to criticism from fellow workers and the public. Generally, drug use in the company is a threat to the company’s future. Factors that promote drug use Drug use among the employees stem from an individual choice made before joining or after the employee joined the company. Studies show that drug use has both biological and psychological effects (Wald & Hutt). The psychological effects influence the person’s cognitive ability thereby influencing the normal behavioral trends. Since the drug use leads to addiction, employees using drugs find it difficult to live without consuming the drugs. The biological effects of drug use dictate the body activity thereby exposing the drug user to constant consumption. Scientifically, drug addictions influence the body functions. This tends to explain the employee’s choice to sneak and abuse the drugs. It is probable that the company hired employees who consume drugs without conducting a proper investigation of the drug status. This is a challenge because it exposes the company to perils like workers abusing drugs. It is evident from the management report on drug use that the implementation strategy used in preventing drug use in the company has some loopholes. The workers capitalize on the loopholes by abusing drugs. Further, the firm does not have a regular check up which enables it to identify employees using drugs in the firm’s premises. Sources and Methods of Data Collection This report used data collected from company employees through interviews. The questioned asked in the interview was, when do you (the worker) think it was justifiable to require current employees to take a drug test? The answered received from the correspondent varied depending on the specific question. The answers received were tabulated into percentage. The questionnaires used in the interview did not require workers identification. This enabled the workers to cooperate in the exercise. Result The response received from the workers revealed the following 54% and 84% of production and white-collar workers respectively indicated that the company should conduct pre-employment drug test. When asked about random testing, 23% and 46% of the production and white-collar workers accepted the test. When asked about return to work test 51% and 64% of the production and the white-collar workers accepted the test. When asked about conducting the test whenever the company incurred an accident 26 and 69 percent of production and white-collar workers respective responded. When asked about conducting the test when the employee shows sign of drug influence 64% and 79% percent of the production and the white-collar workers accepted the test. It was notable that 8% and 3% of the production and white collars workers said that the test should never happen. The interview result also indicated that 3% and 2% of the production and white-collar workers did not give any opinion about the survey question. Discussion of Factors Majority of the company workers have indicated that drug test is important. It is arguable from the opinion given in the interview that the company should institute policies, which will influence testing of the employees. Specifically, the company should conduct the drug test when a worker returns to work and whenever the employees show influence of drug. The above test will cushion the company from any court battle that may result when the company dismisses or takes an action against the employees under drug influence. It is also arguable that employees will avoid using drugs in the company because of the fear to the test. The company should also develop implementation plan, which incorporate the participation of the workers. Such plan would enable the workers to cooperate with the management in stumping the drug abuse menace. Sincerely yours Work cited Wald, M. Patricia & Hutt, B. Peter. Dealing with Drug Abuse. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/dwda/dwdsum.htm Read More