Marijuana in the Workplace gets Complicated
Despite cannabis’ increased legalization, NSC research shows its use poses a huge workplace risk.
- By Shereen Hashem
- Oct 06, 2021
The NSC released results of a survey conducted as part of an ongoing effort to assess the risks of cannabis in the workplace and the results are clear: employers must do more to educate and protect their workers. The survey was conducted between April and May 2021, with responses representing 500 employers and 1,000 employees and showed significant gaps in knowledge and safety. According to a survey, cannabis can have a major impact on the safety of employees, and its legalization is creating new challenges for employers. The survey says one-third of employees say they have observed marijuana use during work hours. The survey also found that:
- Less than half of organizations have a written policy addressing cannabis
- Employees are in need of clear communication about cannabis and employer policy
- More than half of employers that eliminated THC testing reported seeing an increase in incidents or other workplace performance concerns
- Despite what employers believe, less than half of employees reported they would feel comfortable telling supervisors they were too impaired to work
NSC says the employer holds the responsibility to develop a culture of safety, accountability and honesty for employees as it pertains to cannabis, according to a press release.
"As more states legalize cannabis for recreational and medicinal use, employers must take clear, strong stances to ensure worker safety," said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. "Research clearly shows that cannabis impacts a person's ability to safely perform their job, and we hope employers everywhere will heed our recommendations."
To help employers address the risks of cannabis in the workplace, the NSC developed employer guidance that encourages business leaders to take the following key actions:
- Establish a clear, fair cannabis policy that prevents impairment in the workplace and provides support for employees
- Build a safety-focused, trusting culture for employees to report cannabis use in the workplace
- Advocate for increased access to employee assistance programs and health care benefits for those with substance use disorders
- Train supervisors to recognize and respond to impairment in the workplace
NSC will share additional employer recommendations and launch the Impairment Recognition and Response Training for Supervisors at the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando, Florida October 11-13.
About the Author
Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.