Articles Discussing Drugs & Alcohol In The Workplace.

“But I only had two beers.”

Executive Summary: As promised, this is the first of multiple Alerts that will explore the details of the ongoing opioid epidemic, identify relevant issues for employers to analyze, and provide suggestions on how to effectively navigate this complicated and highly problematic issue.

Marijuana drug testing is complicated and controversial, and with rapidly increasing federal, state, and local laws affecting workplace policies, it may be challenging for employers to keep up. Indeed, since January, the U.S. Department of Transportation has published new drug testing regulations and several states have enacted new marijuana laws. 

A Quest Diagnostics analysis published on May 18, 2023 found that positive post-accident marijuana tests were at the highest level in 25 years in 2022. Positive post-accident tests increased to 7.3%, an increase of 9% compared to 6.7% in 2021. Positive post-accident tests have been steadily increasing since 2012, with

Although marijuana has been legalized for medicinal or recreational use, or both, in thirty-eight states, it is still illegal under federal law, and drug testing is required to comply with a number of federal laws, including the Motor Carrier Safety Act. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does

Animal Control is a new sitcom on Fox that calls back to workplace comedies like The Office, Parks and Rec, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  The show primarily follows Seattle Animal Control Officers, Frank (played by Joe McHale) and his partner, Shred (played by Michael Rowland), as they navigate various animal-related

A North Carolina federal court dismissed a former employee’s legal claims related to her use of CBD outside of work after she tested positive for marijuana and was fired by her employer.  Anderson v. Diamondback Inv. Grp., LLC, No. 1:21CV778, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42239 (M.D.N.C. Mar. 14, 2023).    

Dear Littler:  We are a manufacturing company with facilities in multiple states.  We have had a number of incidents when supervisors have suspected an employee was impaired while working due to alcohol or drug use.  We are particularly concerned about employees potentially endangering themselves or others if they are

As courts increasingly enforce applicable state and local laws that make marijuana legal instead of the federal law that makes it illegal, workplace substance abuse policies need a re-look. Jackson Lewis principals Catherine Cano and Kathryn Russo share insights on how the rapidly proliferating laws protecting marijuana and CBD are making marijuana issues for employers more complex.

On October 25, 2022, U.S. professional basketball player Brittney Griner lost her bid in a Russian appeals court to overturn a nine-year sentence for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into Russia. According to reports, Griner, a Women’s National Basketball Association star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was arrested at a

Over the course of the World Cup, we have been publishing our own matchups, comparing various aspects of labor and employment law in some of the participating countries. Parts One and Two of this series examined timeouts (vacation) and sick leave entitlements.

Voters in Maryland and Missouri approved laws to legalize recreational marijuana on Election Day 2022.  Recreational marijuana ballot initiatives did not pass in Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Maryland

Maryland voters approved a state constitutional amendment that will allow the use of cannabis by anyone over the age of

Cannabis use has been legalized in 19 different states, so far. In New Jersey, state legislation has been passed to ensure employees who engage with cannabis recreationally are not penalized in the workplace. Still, many employees are subject to drug tests that continue to identify the presence of marijuana,