A drug-free workplace and a safe workplace are one in the same, according to landscape contractors who discussed this topic at the Breakfast with Champions held Nov. 3 at the Green Industry Expo.
Led by Anthony Vitari, area manager for Painesville, Ohio-based Yardmaster, the discussion touched on how to implement a drug policy in your workplace, how to keep it effective and why it is important.
“It’s not all about drugs and a drug policy, it’s a company policy,” Vitari said.
According to Vitari, the basic structure of a drug policy has fluctuated over the years. Some companies have a mandatory drug screening prior to an employee starting the job, while other companies wait until a worker has an accident or injury before requiring a drug test. Testing each employee before they join the company can be expensive, but Vitari said it’s worth it in the long run.
“Mandatory drug testing is worth as much as the first incident or injury your insurance won’t cover,” he said.
T.J. Martin, of the Land Company, said employees at his company get screened before starting the job as well as after each accident or injury. Recently, all of the company’s 70-plus employees passed their drug tests.
“If they test positive after and accident or injury, they pay for the damage they caused,” Martin said.
Keeping a workplace drug-free can be a group effort in many landscaping companies. Yardmaster encourages workers to report suspicious behavior they observe from their coworkers to the management. When this happens, the employee in question is required to be tested.
“If you or one of your employees doesn’t feel safe because of someone else’s behavior, you have the right to bring that to a manager’s attention,” Vitari said.
If an employee tests positive, there are numerous ways to handle the problem. At the Land Company, testing positive for drugs is grounds for job termination.
“It may seem harsh, but we’re not here to be friends, we’re here to run a business,” Martin said.
Vitari’s company invokes a suspension from driving privileges and from equipment operation, and requires the employee to attend a rehabilitation program paid for by the company’s insurance. The employee then must adhere to random drug testing every 30, 60 and 90 days for a designated length of time.
“This type of action gets your guys to believe that you care about them, and it also may help someone who has a real problem,” Vitari said.
To establish a drug policy, contractors suggest contacting your insurance company or a local drug-testing facility. The Professional Landcare Network also offers contractors information about how to implement a policy.
“PLANET wants everyone at this conference to be safe and to run a professional business, and will gladly offer information on forming a drug policy” Vitari said.
Vitari encourages safe and smart behavior at Turfmaster by offering employees small incentives such as movie passes, restaurant coupons, raises, free lunches and cash. According to Vitari, because drug policies and safety policies are interconnected, rewarding good behavior in one category can automatically prompt good behavior in another.
As Vitari asked, “If you don’t have a drug policy, are you truly protecting your employees?”