News Bytes

Alcohol and drug tests could soon become as common in the workplace as CVs and interviews, as revealed by a survey from Personnel Today. Already in Britain, 40 percent of employers have started, or are considering, testing staff for alcohol and drug use. 9 percent of employers have already tested potential staff during the recruitment process. And with the dominance of multi-nationals here, Ireland too may soon follow the US trend where in many workplaces drug testing is a matter of routine.

Although there are no guidelines as such on alcohol in the Irish workplace and no specific legislation, Dr Dan Murphy, Medical Director with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), says it is part of risk assessment. In an increasingly litigious environment, employers are being forced to consider a rigorous risk management approach to staff misuse to drugs and alcohol and, for many, this includes the prospect of drug and alcohol testing in the workplace.

Discrimination – mothers face greater discrimination in finding jobs than disabled people, Asian women and the elderly, an interim report from the government commissioned Equalities Review has claimed. Women returning to work after starting a family are about 40% less likely than the average white, able-bodied man to be offered a job.