discuss Marijuana in the workplace

[MapleDots]

Here is a nice article about how Cannabis will affect the workplace in Canada.
Lots of logistics when legalizing Marijuana

How will the Cannabis Act affect your workplace?
Employers are already dealing with employees who legally use marijuana for medical purposes, but many worry that when recreational cannabis use becomes legal, the floodgates will open. How will you manage employees who use marijuana recreationally? How will you know?



The good news is, employers don’t have to put up with employees being impaired at work. As with alcohol and certain prescription drugs, employers will be able to:

• Restrict the recreational use and possession of marijuana by employees in the workplace
• Discipline employees if recreational marijuana use has a negative impact on job performance or endangers others in the workplace

Answer your questions about how recreational marijuana use will affect your workplace
The legislation is expected to come into force by summer 2018. However, you can be proactive and start preparing now by understanding how to prevent legal and illegal drugs and alcohol from causing harm in the workplace with The Human Resources Advisor™ (HRA).

 

[jberryhill]

IMHO, no one should be consuming marijuana in the workplace.

Unless they bring enough for everybody.

 

[biggie]

Unless they bring enough for everybody.

+1

 

[SirDrago]

IMHO, no one should be consuming marijuana in the workplace.

Unless they bring enough for everybody.

 

[MapleDots]

The article is about the effects of leisure consumption outside of work hours that might be influenced withing work hours.

Same as showing up drunk or with a hangover. They are trying to set the rules for employers so the employee can be reprimanded if they show up stoned.

 

[jberryhill]

It's one thing to test for impairment, but things like testing someone's urine because they attended a concert five weeks ago and inhaled second hand smoke is ridiculous.

What do they do in Canada with people who show up to work stupid?

Because an employee can be high all weekend and show up to work sharp as a tack. But the stupid ones show up that way every single day.

 

[MapleDots]

What do they do in Canada with people who show up to work stupid?

I'm puzzled by that statement because that is exactly what the legislation is about. Marijuana will be legal so testing is redundant and unnecessary but its no different than coming to work drunk. The question right now is how do we determine someone is under the influence and what are the employers rights as far as sending the employee home or dismissal if the employee repeatedly comes in under the influence.

I can see a quick test of sorts very similar to a breathalyzer and you will have to be under a certain amount to legally operate a vehicle or show up to work. Nothing really stupid about that, safety first when it comes to operating equipment or coming to work.

 

[jberryhill]

I'm puzzled by that statement because that is exactly what the legislation is about.

Obviously, you are unfamiliar with the famous WC Fields quote from which it is copied.

I can see a quick test of sorts very similar to a breathalyzer

What is it that one is attempting to accomplish? Determine what chemicals are in someone, or whether they are cognitively impaired?

Go ahead and point to the equivalent of a breathalyzer for marijuana, though. Just provide a link. Because what most employers use is a urine test that looks for cannabis metabolites that can linger in the system for weeks and have nothing to do with impairment.

In terms of cognitive impairment, however, the biggest problem are employees who are sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation has the same effect as alcohol intoxication, but they will pass a breath test with flying colors.

If you are looking for a deficit in cognitive performance, then you test cognitive performance. You'll find a lot of people who are stone cold sober and in no condition to do anything hazardous at all. Absent that, the concern is not really about safety at all.