Creating a culture of care: how drug & alcohol testing supports employee wellbeing
In many workplaces, drug & alcohol testing might be viewed through a narrow lens. Employees might associate it with punishment, mistrust or an invasion of privacy. But this perception misses the bigger picture. When designed and implemented thoughtfully, drug & alcohol testing is not about catching people out. It is a proactive health and safety measure that supports employee wellbeing, protects teams and creates healthier workplaces. And healthier workplaces mean better safety for the broader public.
Reframing testing as an act of care, rather than control, is key to building trust and strengthening your workplace culture.
Wellbeing and safety are inseparable at work
Employee wellbeing and workplace safety are not separate issues. They are deeply connected. Fatigue, stress, mental health challenges and substance use can all affect a person’s ability to work safely. When impairment is present, the risk extends beyond the individual to colleagues, clients and the wider community.
“It can compromise concentration, reaction time, judgment, and coordination which are essential in any role, but particularly critical in safety-sensitive industries like transport, construction, healthcare and manufacturing. For employers, this translates to increased risk of accidents, near misses, and serious injury.”
Seen through this lens, drug & alcohol testing becomes one component of a bigger wellbeing and risk management framework, alongside fatigue management, mental health support, training and safe systems of work.
Flinders University reports “…that perceptions of the effectiveness of a workplace alcohol and drug policy was more positive when employees felt that the employer was taking a holistic approach rather than just focusing on drug testing programs.
Under Australian workplace health and safety laws, employers have a duty to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Managing the risks associated with drugs and alcohol forms part of this obligation, particularly in roles where impaired judgment, slower reaction times or reduced coordination could result in serious harm.”
Reframing drug & alcohol testing as preventative care
A wellbeing-focused approach to drug and alcohol testing is preventative, not reactive. Rather than responding only after incidents occur, testing helps identify potential risks early and reduce the likelihood of harm.
In the same way that workplaces manage fatigue or require personal protective equipment, testing aims to prevent injuries, not assign blame. Early detection can also prevent longer-term consequences for employees, including serious accidents, disciplinary escalation or loss of employment following a critical incident.
When organisations clearly communicate this intent, testing is more likely to be understood as a protective measure that supports people to stay safe and well at work.
“If the testing program is perceived to be justified and procedurally fair, employees are less likely to hold negative attitudes toward it.”
How drug & alcohol testing supports employees
While testing is often discussed in terms of compliance or organisational risk, its benefits to employees are equally important.
A well-designed drug & alcohol testing program (endorsed by an internal workplace policy) can:
- create safer working environments for everyone
- set clear, consistent expectations around fitness for work
- reduce uncertainty and subjective decision-making
- promote fairness by applying the same standards across roles and teams
- act as an early intervention point for individuals who may be struggling.
When testing is embedded within a supportive framework, it can also reduce stigma by shifting the focus away from individual behaviour and towards shared responsibility for safety and wellbeing.
Addressing privacy and trust concerns
Concerns about privacy and trust are common, and they are valid. Poorly implemented testing programs can damage morale, erode confidence in leadership and undermine culture. But you can avoid that in your workplace!
A care-led approach recognises these risks and addresses them directly. This includes explaining why testing is used and how it works, transparency about when testing may occur and what happens with results, strict confidentiality and appropriate handling of sensitive information, consultation with workers and ensuring testing is proportionate to the level of risk involved. We even have training to help you.
“Positive attitudes toward drug testing were found in relation to:
- transparency
- upholding employee rights
- having a clear rationale for the testing program.”
Trust is built not through policies alone but through consistent, respectful implementation.
How AusHealth supports a culture of care
AusHealth works with organisations across Australia to deliver drug & alcohol testing services that prioritise compliance, discretion and employee wellbeing. Beyond testing, AusHealth supports workplaces with workplace policy development, education and guidance to help ensure testing programs are lawful, proportionate and aligned with modern expectations around safety and care.