Managing Workforce In The Age Of Legalized Drugs And The Opioid Epidemic

Brett Gelbord authored the HR.com article, "Managing Workforce In The Age Of Legalized Drugs And The Opioid Epidemic." In the article, Gelbord points out that the nationwide conversation around ending the war on drugs, coupled with the widespread legalization of marijuana and certain psychedelics, has made it important for employers to update policies.

The article touches on some harm-reduction-focused policy changes that employers can make to provide a supportive workplace for employees struggling with addiction, while also improving recruitment, retention, and productivity. These changes include re-examining zero-tolerance policies, offering leaves of absence, phasing out drug testing, and updating employee handbooks to apply policies through a harm reduction lens.

The article also emphasizes the need for new ways of thinking about how to solve the addiction problem and highlights the importance of community support, access to mental health, and safe spaces for drug consumption.