America's businesses pay a high price for substance abuse. Some costs-increased absences, accidents and errors-are obvious. Others, such as low employee morale and high illness rates, are less obvious, but the effects are equally harmful.

The good news is that employers have enormous power to protect their businesses from the negative impact of substance abuse by educating employees about its dangers and encouraging individuals with substance abuse problems to seek help. To help businesses benefit from being drug free and further its mission to help America's employers maintain safe and healthy workplaces, the Department of Labor established Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace.

Working Partners raises awareness about the impact drugs and alcohol have on the workplace and provides information on how to establish drug-free workplace programs that protect worker safety and health, while respecting worker rights. The Working Partners Small Business Drug-Free Workplace Kit is available free of charge by calling (202) 693-5918 or e-mailing webwp@dol.gov. All materials in the Kit, along with other tools to help employers develop drug-free workplace programs--including how to develop a drug-free workplace policy from start to finish and ready-to-use supervisor training and employee education materials--are also available online at www.dol.gov/dol/workingpartners.htm.

Drug-free workplace programs do more than just rid the workplace of alcohol and other drugs-they significantly contribute to the creation of alcohol- and drug-free families, schools and communities. Working Partners is a valuable resource that helps employers safeguard their business and play a role in the campaign to prevent substance abuse nationwide.

Credit:
U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners Program
The U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners program is pleased to offer National Business Association members and others a free Small Business Drug-Free Workplace Kit that provides introductory resources and information for making their workplaces drug free.

Visit them online at www.dol.gov/dol/workingpartners.htm.

Please feel free to contact the Working Partners Program at (202) 693-5918 for more information or assistance.

Related Information:

National Business Association / Department of Labor Office of the 21st Century Workforce

Department of Labor - About Working Partners

Small Business Workplace Kit

Drug-Free Workplace Advisor

Reprint of this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web site.