Prescription Drugs and Marijuana Use in the Workplace

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Overview: Most employers don't want to know about their employees' medical problems and the treatment they may be undergoing to deal with an underlying medical problem. Yet, sometimes, it is absolutely necessary to know what kinds of medications your employees are taking. You took a Trazadone to help you sleep last night? You took a Xanax before reporting to work? Did you take what was prescribed or have you developed an addiction to your prescriptions? Oh, your doctor prescribed marijuana to deal with your seizures? Don't you know that is illegal?

Of course, you have a duty to provide a safe working environment to all your employees. So what can you do when employees are taking medications that could impair their ability in the workplace?

Why should you attend: Americans are using prescription medications more than ever. For all of their benefits, many have addictive qualities and are subject to abuse. Some, like marijuana, are highly controversial. Even when used in accordance with instructions, those under the influence of some types of prescriptive medications - even over the counter ones - make the employee using them highly susceptible to accidents. When can an employer require an employee to disclose his/her medications and what is an employer to do?

Areas Covered in the Session:
Most commonly prescribed medications that can be dangerous to use
Most commonly abused prescription medication
When can an employer ask an employee about prescription drug use
The growing use of marijuana as medication
When is marijuana being prescribed as medication and when is it being use recreationally? Should you care?
Prescription/Marijuana Use and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Tightening your drug testing policies
How state lifestyle discrimination statutes can protect marijuana use

Who Will Benefit:
Human Resource Managers
Company Owners
Risk Managers
Benefits
Instructor:
Susan Desmond is a partner with the firm of Jackson Lewis, LLP which has offices in 59 cities across the country. She has been representing management in the area of labor and employment law since her graduation from the University of Tennessee School Of Law. Susan is a frequent speaker and author on a number of labor and employment issues. She is named in Best Lawyers in America and has been named by Chambers USA as one of America's leading business lawyers for labor and employment law.