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Home - The Management Association
Member Resources
Don’t Try to Test for Alcohol In-House
by Angela Adams, CEBS, SPHR, Sr. Human Resource Specialist
Published Aug 30, 2010
Question: We have an employee that we suspect is under the influence of alcohol while at work. We are thinking about purchasing a breathalyzer and testing this person ourselves when we have reasonable suspicion that the person is under the influence. Is this okay?
Answer: We wouldn’t recommend this course of action for several reasons.
While breathalyzers are available for consumer purchase, they are not as accurate as those used by law enforcement and hospitals. In addition, no one on your staff has medical or professional training as far as how to use one of these devices appropriately. Because of these limitations on the device, an employee’s attorney could challenge the validity of the results as well as your impartiality in administering the test to the employee in the event you take disciplinary action against the employee if the test is positive.
Leave drug and alcohol testing to medical professionals. If you have a clinic you work with for workers’ compensation or other medical issues, it should be able to assist you in testing for alcohol. If you are in need of a vendor for this purpose, often your employee assistance program (EAP) may be able to help you find one, or you can look at The Management Association’ Vendor Survey, which lists different providers our members use.
Remember also, never let an employee you suspect is under the influence of drugs or alcohol drive himself or herself to a clinic. Call a taxi or have a member of the management team drive the person to the clinic and make sure he returns home safely.
