Marijuana legal tomorrow, are employers ready?

Employers must have "change fatigue" this year with Bill 17 (Fair and Family Friendly Workplaces Act) , Bill 30 (Act to Protect the Health & Well-being of Working Albertans) and now Marijuana becoming legal tomorrow October 17, 2018. All of these changes have required employers to revisit their policies and procedures and communicate with their employees.

It appears employers are not ready for legalization of marijuana according to Global News. The article suggests that employers are using the "head in the sand" technique hoping it won't effect them. We know that employers are so busy that they may not have time to amend their policies and get up to date with best practices regarding marijuana in the workplace.

A blanket statement of "zero tolerance" does not cover employees who may have a medical prescription. On the flip side employees who hold a prescription should provide their employer with this information. Common questions we have been asked are:
How do I handle dependance issues?
Can I test for marijuana in the workplace?
Can an employee smoke marijuana on his/her break now? 
What should I do if I catch an employee in possession of marijuana?
How do I handle someone in a safety sensitive position?

These are all questions we have the answers to. Contact us for a consult or a comprehensive policy to cover all these topics.

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