Thursday 16th June 2011 - Published by Robert Trigg - Communications Executive
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Costs UK Business Billions
A training company is warning that while drug and alcohol misuse is estimated to cost UK businesses billions of pounds a year, the majority of employers fail to have a robust policy to tackle, this growing problem.
Blueknight Learning, based in Northamptonshire, believes that many company executives have failed to grasp the seriousness of drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace, and so fail to put a suitable policy in place.
Drug and alcohol abuse costs businesses dearly, at an estimated £8bn in lost production, according to recent figures. It can lead to excessive absenteeism, or in extreme cases, even death in the workplace, which in turn can open up a company to a possible charge of manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act.
Blueknight Learning made the warning in response to a recent article in the Safety & Health Practitioner magazine, which discussed the growing issue of drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace.
Stephen Collier, Managing Director of Blueknight Learning, said: "At Blueknight Learning, we aim to be a one stop shop for all drug and alcohol policy development and training. Our experts guide companies through the issues, and provide a bespoke policy that is tailored to each organisation and its staff."
The company helps employers by offering detailed information, advice and guidance on the effects of drug use on the person, and how it affects other employees, from office staff, to warehouse workers and drivers.
In particular, Blueknight Learning offer Workplace Impairment Tests, which reduce the cost to companies on sample testing. Also, Blueknight will provide training to use these tests, which enhance management capability to intercede in drug and alcohol workplace issues.
Drugs in the Workplace - Keep your WITs about you - a pr2go story
