To Care Or Not To Care

Apathy is prevalent in our society. If you went around asking various people about politics, religion, global warming, or a host of other social issues, a great many of them would flat out tell you, “I don’t care about that stuff.”

Of course it is everyone’s prerogative whether to care or not about issues, but more and more youngsters are becoming more apathetic when it comes to decisions that have the potential to harm them down the road.

Let’s take alcohol for instance. Alcohol use among teens is growing in Australia with really no alcohol testing implemented at school or home. Alcohol parties partnered with peer pressure makes it more difficult to say no when it comes to drinking. Even though teens know that drinking can lead to serious negative consequences, they still choose to drink- and many drink heavily. As teens grow into young adults, many of them outgrow the “party” stage and settle down into careers and life in general with no major bumps. Others- especially those who have an addictive nature- continue to party and come to rely on alcohol far too much. Whether they drink to kill pain, feel more social, or just because their friends are doing it, the effect it has on them in the long run is not good.

Alcoholism affects millions of men and women in Australia. Some alcoholics are considered “functioning” addicts because they can consume alcohol and still maintain a job, relationships, and pretty much function like someone who is not drinking. For full-fledged addicts, the disease of alcoholism will gradually bring their world down. They may begin to drink at work and make a fatal mistake. They may get drunk at home and not take care of the kids. They may become intoxicated and do something illegal. The bottom line is that their drinking will cause negative consequences.

This is why businesses and organizations ought to have drug screening and alcohol testing onsite. It is important to know that the quality of your employees is at the highest level and alcohol does impair brain function considerably. By testing your current employees randomly for alcohol, you will be able to assure higher safety standards for your company.

Mediscreen provides mobile, onsite alcohol and drug testing services to small and large businesses in Australia. It is convenient and we take care of everything for you. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to implement such important safety measures for your employees and your company. For more information about alcohol and drug testing.

This article has been taken from http://mediscreen.net.au/articles/?p=2092

Running with Scissors

As children, we are often exhorted to never run with scissors. The implication of this is that if we trip and fall while running, we could cut our face or other places on our body when we hit the floor. Does that make a child completely safe, though? A recent article in the Wall Street Journal describes “dangerous playgrounds” for children, and discusses whether or not danger can add to the child’s growth and development. The argument in favor of this is that children will learn if they are exposed to danger to be more careful. However, if they never encounter fire or falling or serious bodily injuries, they do not necessarily know what is dangerous and what is not. They also do not know where their limits are if they do not test them, much less be able to widen their limits through exercise and repeated failures.

In your business, we do not encourage you to use drug and alcohol testing as a threat or in any way used as a malicious tool. Often, things like this cannot be abused, since employees either pass the test or they do not. Drug screening is the limit, as defined within your company policy. If your employee runs up against the limit on more than one occasion, then your policy may state that they must be fired. However, some companies allow for multiple attempts to be made to skirt the system before they actually let someone go. Some businesses put the employee on probation, or some alternative. Others use employee assistance programs to help the individual overcome their own personal obstacles which are affecting their performance and the safety of other people. Workplace drug testing is perfect for these occasions.

At no point is employee alcohol testing meant to be some form of “they’re out to get us workers.” Rather, the company is protecting itself AND employees who are taking their jobs seriously. For this reason, it is almost a treat or a special safety net for your employees. To learn more about implementing drug and alcohol testing in your own workplace.

This article has been taken from http://mediscreen.net.au/articles/?p=2089