Drug Free Workplace Program: Arkansas
Five easy steps to implementing a Drug Free Workplace program in Arkansas and qualifying for the state mandated 5% discount on workers compensation insurance:Scroll down for five easy steps to implementing a certified Drug Free Workplace program in Arkansas. Our nonprofit agency has helped more than 9,044 companies implement and maintain their drug free workplace program. ____________________________________________________________________ NOTE: FEDERAL CONTRACT & GRANT RECIPIENTS MUST MAINTAIN A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to read Arkansas law regarding the denial of workers comp and unemployment as a result of intoxication. ____________________________________________________________ Your $150 drug free workplace membership meets all certification and re-certification requirements of Arkansas law and includes monthly employee drug education training newsletters. Membership includes:
Implementing a drug free workplace program results in an annual savings of several thousand dollars for most companies and organizations, and your membership helps our 501(c)3 nonprofit agency prevent drug abuse among children. In addition to the state mandated discount, the federal government has proven that drug free workplace programs increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and tardiness, cut workers comp claims in half, reduce medical costs, increase overall workforce morale, cut turnover rate and reduce theft and other forms of crime in the workplace. Why would any company not want to implement a drug free workplace program? Join the Council's Drug-Free Workplace program and qualify for the state mandated discount on workers compensation insurance. Please note: We also offer Supervisor Training newsletters and Spanish Employee version newsletters for a small additional fee. These monthly newsletters are the most cost-effective way to meet your drug-free workplace training requirements. In-person presentations and videotape training require that employees stop work to attend training resulting in loss of payroll and loss of productivity. Monthly newsletters solve this problem and save your company thousands of training dollars. Step 1: SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY (Required by state law) In order to implement a comprehensive drug free workplace program and qualify for the state mandated discount, your company must have a substance abuse policy in place that meets all requirements of Arkansas labor law. We email you a ‘fill-in-the-blank’ policy in English and Spanish. Simply print the policy on company letterhead and hand it out to all employees. If you have any questions regarding the substance abuse policy, we have drug free workplace experts who will answer your questions at no charge. Sample letters and forms are included in the policy. These should also be printed on company letterhead. Step 2: SUPERVISOR TRAINING (Required by state law) We will assist you in selecting an appropriate (free) video or DVD for supervisor training. Follow-up supervisor training can be conducted by selecting another video/DVD from our video library list, or by subscribing to our Supervisor Training newsletters. Download a sample supervisor newsletter.
Step 3: EMPLOYEE EDUCATION (Required by state law). Employers must provide "materials" to employees explaining details of the drug free workplace program including the definition of a "safety-sensitive" position, what conduct is prohibited, when an employee can be tested, testing procedures, employee protections, consequences of refusal/or a postive test, the effects of drug/alcohol use, intervention methods, etc. -- Our monthly Employee Education Newsletters cover all of the required information. Employee Education is a critical component of a drug free workplace program. Our monthly Employee Education newsletter is the most cost-effective means of conducting this training and is included in your membership fee. Distributing the newsletter to employees once a month provides a total of two hours of employee drug education. The Employee Education newsletters are e-mailed to you on a monthly basis. We suggest they be attached to your employees' paychecks, but how you distribute them is up to you. Download a sample Employee Education newsletter (also available in Spanish).
Step 4: TYPES OF TESTING MANDATED BY LAW (You do not have to drug test your entire workforce). You must conduct job applicant, post accident, reasonable suspicion and post treatment drug testing. Random drug testing is not required, but is permitted and recommended. We offer member discounted pricing on iCup® testing products. This is an excellent way to save time and money! It is extremely easy to become a certified onsite collector at NO additional cost. Onsite collector certification is included in your $150 membership. Take the guesswork out of safeguarding your world. Trust On-Site® and OnTrak™, Varian, Inc.'s convenient, cost-conscious drug screens, to deliver rapid, reliable results when and where you need them most. The patented design and careful manufacturing free you from strict test timing and false positives. The urine tests are available in many multiple screen combinations. Please call our VP of Drug Free Workplace, Leanne Mulherin at (404) 223-2482 for more information. Step 5: EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) OR RESOURCE FILE Drug-free workplaces should provide either an EAP (Employee Assistance Program), or a resource list of treatment and counseling centers in the area.
THE COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, ALONG WITH THE DRUGS DON’T WORK PROGRAM, ARE DEDICATED TO EDUCATING EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE ABOUT: (1) the dangers of substance abuse, especially the abuse of illicit drugs; (2) the impact of such abuse on the workplace; (3) the most appropriate, effective and legally accepted means for employers to address their substance abuse in the workplace problems; (4) the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees; (5) the status of legislative, regulatory and legal developments at the state level, and; (6) the very legitimate and necessary - role of employers in our national effort to combat drug abuse. The Council on Alcohol and Drugs recognizes the threat of drug abuse in the workplace. Among other consequences, drug and alcohol abuse decreases productivity and increases accidents, absenteeism, product defects, medical and insurance costs, and employee theft. Employers and employees have a large stake and legitimate role to play in the "war on drugs." Click on the Join Now button below to become a member of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs' Drug Free Workplace Program and begin saving your company thousands of dollars annually. Your membership helps our 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, established in 1969, to prevent drug abuse among children. Arkansas Law: Workers Comp: Arkansas Law (Sec. 11-9-102(4)(B)(iv)(a-b)). The presence of drugs, alcohol or prescription drugs used in contravention to doctor’s orders raises rebuttable presumption that an injury was substantially occasioned by that drug or alcohol use and is therefore not compensable. Unemployment: Arkansas Law Sec. 11-10-514(b)). “Misconduct” resulting in a denial of unemployment benefits includes drinking on the job, reporting for work while under the influence of intoxicants, including a controlled substance. The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, Inc. |
|
 |
|
©2009 The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, Inc. |