EBI's own background screening library.

With the resources EBI has at its disposal for background screening, drug testing, and human resources management, we felt it was time to offer a consolidated location for accessing many of our best public research materials, hence EBI's background screening online library was born.

You'll also find a complete archive of our EBI Advisor, our periodic newsletter on the background screening industry located here.

You're welcome to use and quote any of these resources, in whole or part, as long as you offer complete attribution to this page and our site.

Current topic: Employee Drug Screening: Creating Safe Workplace Environments Employee drug screening is a growing trend in American businesses, and some employees like it because it helps create safer work environments. Employees, especially those who work in jobs with heavy machinery or equipment, don't want to worry about getting injured on the job because of a coworker who's under the influence. And employers report having better workers and less turn-around after implementing drug testing at work. These factors make employee drug testing a smart choice for small businesses and large organizations that want to employ and retain a strong workforce. Even though some employees may not agree with on-the-job drug tests, drug screening is becoming a regular part of work life in America. Businesses in Idaho, for example, are signing up for a program to help curb employee drug use. The program, DrugFree Idaho, focuses on education and drug testing and is a way for businesses to address substance abuse head-on. When confronted with a challenging pool of applicants, employers are finding the best way to deal with substance abuse problems at work is to stop it before it starts through pre employment drug screening. The Idaho Business Review reports that DrugFree Idaho Director, Marianne King, says it's more cost effective to catch a drug problem up front than to fire and rehire. This means it's cheaper in the long run to pay for drug testing so employers can hire and train the right people. A similar effort to stop substance abuse at work is under way in Georgia through the Drugs Don't Work Program. Businesses that sign up for Drugs Don't Work are required to enforce a substance abuse policy, according to WALB News. Employers are also required to have pre employment drug screening, post accident drug testing, or random drug tests in order to participate in the program. Lee Burkett, Human Resources Manager of Pinnacle Prime, a general contracting company, reports reduced turnover, improved employee morale, and reduced absenteeism since enrolling in Drugs Don't Work. Since Pinnacle Prime employees work around dangerous equipment every day, the drug-free program ensures workers the safest possible work environment, according to Lee. The contracting company has found that expressing concern over workplace safety is very important to employees. But not everyone in America is enthusiastic about drug testing. The Ledger reports that there are limits to performing drug tests on public employees who work for the government. A U.S. District Judge ruled in favor of two public employees who refused to take drug tests. The court based its decision on the grounds that neither employee worked in areas where drug use created a safety hazard. It's important to note that this ruling doesn't apply to public workers who work with minors or where safety is a concern. And, this ruling doesn't apply to the private sector. So private employers can continue to perform pre employment background screenings and drug tests since this case applies only to government employees. It's important for businesses to create clear substance abuse policies and to communicate expectations to potential and current employees, especially in situations where safety is a concern. An explicit policy backed up by drug screening will help employers hire and retain the best candidates, therefore creating safer work environments for everyone. A background check company like EBI provides comprehensive background screening services that can be customized to meet the needs of any business. EBI offers more than 20 different screening programs including drug testing, inmate searches, and employment verification. Investing in a reliable screening program will save money in the long run because employers won't have to spend as much time firing and rehiring. Call EBI to discuss designing a drug testing program to suit your company's needs.Our reliable drug testing programs will give you peace of mind about drug use in your workplace. Criminal records searches. Random drug testing. Reference checks. Everything for a comprehensive picture of your prospective employees. Call us at 800.324.7700 for details.

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