SureHire Blog

With the holiday season upon us, many of us don’t think about the effects a drink or two at dinner has on our judgement. But we need to think twice before hopping in our cars to drive home. In 2010, in Alberta alone, there were 96 fatalities and 1384 injuries caused in alcohol-related collisions. Impaired driving cases take up approximately 40% of the trial time in the Crown Prosecutor of Alberta’s courts, and these collisions cost Canada about $3 billion annually.

But let’s take a look at what the alcohol actually does to our bodies. With a blood alcohol level of just 0.05% (legal limit in Alberta is currently 0.08%), we experience a loss of small-muscle control (ex. focussing our eyes), lowered alertness, and a release of inhibitions. How does this affect our driving? It can lead us to have reduced coordination, difficulty steering, and a reduced response to other drivers or pedestrians.

If this is the case, why do we continue to hop into a vehicle after drinking at a family get together, corporate party, or gathering of friends? Maybe we were unaware of these facts? Perhaps we think it’ll never happen to us. But I guarantee those 96 people who lost their lives last year never thought it would happen to them, either. So please, make sure you think twice about your actions not just during this holiday season, but any time you decide to “have a couple”, or any time someone you’re with or care about tries to jump in their car after drinking.

Sources:

www.transportation.alberta.ca

www.madd.ca

Florida Governor, Rick Scott, stands firm in his decision to drug test welfare recipients. He refuses to let tax payers money subsidize drug addiction and is using this as an incentive to not do drugs. He says “Welfare is for children”, that is what welfare money should be used for.  What do you think?

Recently, Charlie Sheen has been all over the media about his out-of-control lifestyle. When it comes to the discussion about celebrities and drug or alcohol abuse, are they above the law?  Drug and alcohol addiction are very serious and should be taken seriously whether you are a celebrity or an average Joe.  When the Charlie Sheen’s of the world are exploiting their addictions in the media and press, how are the average people dealing with their addictions? With drug and alcohol testing and pre-employment screening becoming increasingly popular, average Joe’s are losing their jobs or not getting hired at all.  They are the ones faced with the true reality of drug and alcohol addiction.

Amidst all the drug and alcohol testing, some companies reach out to employees in the form of rehabilitation or follow up programs.  These types of programs offer employees who have a drug or alcohol problem, a chance to clean up and change their life for the better.  It’s beneficial in some aspects to the employer as well, as employers have a commitment to protect people and property, and to provide a safe working environment.

If a company can develop a policy that recognizes the problems created by drug and alcohol abuse and it can then develop prevention and treatment programs. The purpose of a follow up or rehabilitation program is to establish and maintain a drug free, alcohol free, safe, healthy work environment for all of its employees. These programs encourage employees to seek help for a drug or alcohol problem before it deteriorates into a disciplinary matter. Some companies assist their employees in locating a suitable program for treatment, and will counsel the employee regarding medical benefits available under the company or union health & welfare/insurance program. Often, an employee who successfully completes a rehabilitation program is reinstated to their former employment status.

A good follow-up treatment program includes having the employees return to work after successfully completing the rehabilitation program.  They are then usually subjected to drug tests without prior notice for a period of up to one year.  This a good measure of how successful the treatment program was to an employer.  I think everyone deserves a chance and can make changes.  By having proactive drug and alcohol policies, employers can benefit themselves and their employees.

Business is all about taking risks. It’s an investment of time, money and reputations, with the hopes of some kind of return.  When going through the process of hiring potential candidates, every business is putting themselves at risk in more ways than one.  First, if the person provided untrue information on their resume, you may be hiring an individual that is completely unqualified for the job. As a result, they will be unable to fulfill the requirements for that role, costing the business time and money in training. Even worse, the person could have a history of drug or alcohol abuse that could pose a threat to your business and other employees. Pre-Employment testing can detect these individuals and reduce the number of potential candidates you have to choose from.

With pre-employment screening, a business can make the best decision with all of the necessary information available. By testing before hiring, a business can be proactive in minimizing their turnover rate and decreasing their WCB claims. When making a hiring decision, the past can only offer a potential idea of what the future holds. For example, a business will know the medical/physical history of a candidate if the position applied for involves physical exertion.

In the end, pre-employment testing for businesses is not a game. The final decision that is made affects real lives and real money. With so much at stake the best solution is to obtain as much information as possible before bringing the person on staff.  SureHire’s pre-employment screening and occupational testing services is highly effective at weeding out potential risks.  SureHire will work hard to provide you with the necessary information and results your company wants.  Minimize hiring risks by customizing a pre-employment screening test to ensure that your business is choosing the right applicants.

Have you ever hired a worker only to have them sustain a lost time WCB claim soon after they started working for you? Was that WCB claim resulting from a pre-existing injury that was not identified prior to hire? Did that pre-existing injury prevent them from safely completing the physical job demands of the job that they were applying for? SureHire’s proprietary full body musculoskeletal examination and critical strength and mobility testing can identify these injuries prior to hire and recommend corrective actions prior to re-testing. www.surehire.ca