Addressing Drug Use and the Changing Legal and Social Environment (Recreational and Medicinal Marijuana Use)

Why Should You Attend:

Post-legalization, employers should expect that social expectations and acceptance of cannabis use will evolve.

Employees who are casual users or who may be experimenting with legal cannabis may inadvertently create problems.

• Edibles v. smoking v. vaping v. “dabbing”
• Varying THC concentrations
• Different impairment time periods
• Impairment issues at work

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Medical marijuana laws and what they mean for employers
• Recreational marijuana laws and what they mean for employers
• Laws that protect lawful activities outside the workplace
• Implied rights of action in medical marijuana laws
• What’s new in marijuana testing

Who Will Benefit:

• HR Managers and Directors
• Small Business Owners and Managers
• Other Senior HR Staff
• Senior staff in Finance, Information Management or Facilities.

Greg Chartier
Principal, HRinfo4u

Dr. Chartier is the Principal of HRinfo4u, a human resource consulting firm and a well-known educator and speaker. As a consultant, he works with organizations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their human resource function. He has worked extensively in designing, developing and implementing human resource program, procedures and systems for smaller and mid-size firms up and down the Hudson Valley.

Greg is a thought provoking professional speaker and his wisdom and insights into management and leadership make him an electrifying speaker and seminar leader. His seminars are customized to reinforce company mission, vision, values and culture and the content is practical for team leaders, managers, supervisors and executives alike.

Dr. Chartier has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, an MBA in Finance and a PhD in Human Resources. He is a National Member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is certified by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) as well as a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) by SHRM.

He served on the Board of the local SHRM Chapter, the Westchester Human Resources Management Association (WHRMA), as the Treasurer for nine years. In addition, Greg served on the Board of the Business Council of Westchester in a variety of capacities and continues his service as the Chair of the Human Resources Council. Dr. Chartier also serves on the Board of the Child Care Council of Westchester.

Topic Background:

Employees who abuse drugs, including illegal drugs, prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, either on their own time or at work, pose a significant and wide-ranging problem for employers, managers and co-workers. These problems can include diminished job performance, lower productivity, absenteeism, tardiness, turnover and increased medial and workers’ compensation bills. Employees who abuse drugs can also make the workplace more dangerous and can expose employers to increased risk of legal liability.

Driven by increases in cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, drug use by the American workforce remains at its highest rate in more than a decade, based on a study by Quest Diagnostics in May, 2018.

The data suggests a shifting pattern of drug use, with cocaine and amphetamines surging and marijuana use rising sharply in states with newer recreational use statutes.

Marijuana affects many skills that matter in the workplace, including:

• Ability to think and solve problems;
• Judgment;
• Motor skills;
• Reaction time;
• Perception;
• Mood; and
• Memory.

Substance abuse clearly has an impact at work, including:

• Workplace safety
• Background checks
• Leave programs like FMLA
• Pre-employment drug testing
• Enforcement of policies
• Unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance premiums

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