With the rise of opioid and other drug addiction in the United States today, employers have to wonder—is it possible one of my employees is dealing with addiction? In the second article of a three-part series, Littler shareholder Dale L. Deitchler and associate Jeffrey E. Dilger discuss how to approach discipline where an employee might be dealing with substance abuse.
First and foremost, no employer should discipline an employee because the employer suspects addiction or substance abuse. Imposing discipline based on mere suspicions of addiction or substance abuse is unlawful. So, what is an employer to do?