AUCKLAND, Friday: Employers should not panic that the possible legalisation of cannabis will mean that employees will be allowed to come to work stoned, say Buddle Findlay’s Susan Rowe & Shaun Brookes, in an article written especially for NBR.
“If cannabis is legalised employers will need to strike a balance between encroaching on the lawful activities employees might engage in during their own time, and ensuring employees are safe and productive at work,” they write.
“Arguably employers can only control what an employee does in their personal time as far as those activities impact their ability to safely and productively perform their role.
“The same principles that apply to impairment from alcohol at work, will apply to impairment from cannabis.”
“The same principles that apply to impairment from alcohol at work, will apply to impairment from cannabis. Employers will still be able to require their employees to attend work in a fit state to carry out their duties safely, responsibly, and to the best of their ability.
The employer’s ability to test its employees for the presence of drugs or alcohol is likely to remain unchanged if cannabis is legalised. Employers should have a drug and alcohol policy in place that spells out the process that is to be followed if an employee returns a non-negative result or refuses to test.
- There’s more – all of it measured and enlightening. Read the full article here
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