Managing “Medical & Recreational Cannabis” in Your Workplace
It’s been more than couple of months since recreational cannabis was legalized in Canada, and the country hasn’t gone up in smoke (pun intended). Although it’s still early days, and therefore impossible to know the full impact on workplaces, there’s no doubt that managing cannabis in the workplace is going to be on employer’s minds as we look towards 2019. Below, we’ve outlined a couple of key things to continue to watch for:
“Legalization
of recreational
cannabis
does not give
employees
the right to be
impaired at
work.”
Employer Obligations: Medical & Recreational Cannabis
Employers have several obligations to workforce, and cannabis is no exception.
1. Duty to Accommodate
Employers have a legal duty to accommodate their employees until the point of undue hardship for a disability and its treatment. This duty extends to employees using medical cannabis (but not recreational cannabis) in the same way accommodation would be required for any other disabled employee who has been prescribed medication for their condition.
Example: an employee who has been prescribed medical cannabis to reduce symptoms of nausea from chemotherapy treatment.
2. Provide a Safe Environment
Employers must provide a workplace that is safe for all employees, and every reasonable precaution must be taken to protect their health and safety.
Example: A forklift operator prescribed medical cannabis may be required accommodation, such as performing a different role, while taking prescribed medication due to their role being deemed a safety sensitive role. This is to protect the employee and other employees from a potential accident in the
workplace and meet the requirement of zero tolerance for this role.
Medical Cannabis At Work: 4 Things Employers & Employees Should Know
Employers and employees alike should note that a prescription for medical cannabis DOES NOT entitle an employee to:
– be impaired at work;
– compromise his or her safety, or the safety of others;
– smoke in the workplace – anti-smoking laws apply to cannabis in the same way they do to regular cigarettes;
– unexcused absences or late arrivals.
Spotting Impairment in the Workplace
One of the biggest challenges for employers will be spotting impairment from the use of cannabis. There is no standard definition of impairment, and unlike alcohol, there is no current consensus on safe limits for cannabis use.
Adding to this difficulty is the fact that the effects of cannabis on individuals varies widely. Factors such as frequency of use, height and weight, sex, and the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can affect a person’s level of impairment. However, there are some common observable effects, such as:
- Lack of concentration
- Impaired learning and memory
- Drowsiness
- Changes in normal mood or behaviour
It should be noted that the legalization of recreational cannabis does not give employees the right to be impaired at work. Employers will have to set rules for non-medical use of cannabis. A good “rule of thumb” is to adopt the same stance as alcohol in your workplace.
Updating and Crafting a Drug and Alcohol Policy
A drug and alcohol policy outlines the rules and restrictions of legal and illegal substances for employees and is an essential workplace policy. With the legalization of recreational cannabis, employers will need to update their drug and alcohol policies to include it.
However, the impact of this change need not be significant. In fact, if an employer already has a drug and alcohol policy in place, a simple amendment to include recreational and medical cannabis (if not already present) may be all that is required.
For those employers who do not have a drug and alcohol policy in place, there is no time like the present. Insurance companies make specific recommendations for what to include in your policy.
You can review and download Benefits by Design`s downloadable pdf booklet, “Managing Cannabis in the Workplace” from the link below.