Strength in Personal Power

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Power has a bit of a bad rapport. It is equated with people like Stalin and Lord Voldemort (oh, excuse us, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) and is reputed to be a thirst which cannot be quenched. Power is said to bring on the lust to step on anybody and everybody who is in your way, just to get to where you want to be.
Of course, that is contextual.

Yes, power is contextual.

If someone cannot handle the particular amount of power they possess, whether it is small or great, they will quickly lose it. But, this not because someone necessarily had to step in and remove them from their position. Often, power which cannot be handled destroys the person who has it. In other words, external influence is not necessarily required to bring someone down. They may bring themselves down, just by their inability to handle what they control.

And that is true for any type of resource…money, prestige, homes, land, children, etc.

Well, if your employees abuse illicit substances while on the job, they are doing far more than just abusing drugs or alcohol, they are abusing their employment with you. They are leveraging it to an unnatural degree in order to retain their regular patterns of abuse and in order to not even interrupt this pattern long enough to go to work! It is really a bad situation. Make sure that you are aware of it by leveraging employee drug and alcohol testing on your own behalf and on behalf of your business.

By assuring your business plenty of employees with fully functioning reason, you are doing your business a favor and your company assets a favor. It is necessary to make things efficient, and we recommend that you use our onsite drug and alcohol screening services. Drug testing in Australia is important due to the fact we already have thousands of fine businesses which work well on their own, are self sustaining, and which bring high value to the Australian marketplace. Strengthen your own company with NATA accredited onsite drug testing from Mediscreen. This is the time for growth, mobile services, and onsite AOD testing. Mediscreen has all of these.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/strength-in-personal-power/

Generational Planning

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You’ve probably heard of family planning. This means that, rather than leaving potential child births up to fate, you judiciously use birth control in order to create the family that you want. Generational planning is…not quite the same thing. It couldn’t be. When we talk about generational planning, we are talking about planning for three or four generations down the line. This means planning your house, studiously planting and cultivating your land, being a good steward with the resources you have, so that your grandchildren will have so many more.

Isn’t that what we all want? Isn’t it true that we all greatly desire to bring our families into the knowledge and implementation of steady growth and opportunity?

Generational planning means looking much further down the road. It means making the longest term plan you can think of, and improving and perfecting it over time, but always keeping it in mind. It means taking responsibility for what you are doing right here, right now. That kind of commitment to your long term success is necessary in order to get everything done that you want to get done in your life. It’s the only way to truly achieve your “bucket list.”

Workplace drug testing is a part of the generational planning of businesses. It is part of this because companies cannot operate effectively for very long into the future without making adequate protection for its employees and for its own financial resources. Now, clearly onsite drug and alcohol testing won’t take away someone’s ability to show up to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but it will take away their future chances of remaining employed, because you will know about it when it happens. Drug and alcohol testing is brought to you by Mediscreen, and we are NATA accredited for onsite drug testing. We know how important it is for you to be able to plan for long term success, and this is only possible if you can rely upon your own employees. More importantly, Mediscreen is AS4308 accredited by NATA.

This is the key to success. This drug screening process is the key to your success. It takes the last element of surprise.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/generational-planning/

Personal Agendas and Marijuana Breaks

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What do your employees do while they are on break? You can probably guess some of the regular activities: smoking, getting some coffee, grabbing a snack, gossiping with a coworker, etc. However, if they are downing booze or puffing on a joint, you probably would not know where to look for their favorite hangout spots. Each employee takes a break, thinks of something they will be doing later on that day, plans ahead a little bit, and then gets back to the daily grind.

Marijuana breaks do more than obscenely violate your company policy concerning no drugs in the workplace. They stretch the break time over longer and longer periods over time. They distort your employee’s perspective on how much work they have accomplished and on how much left they have to do. They sometimes produce visible effects and therefore compromise your business’s relations with your clientele or customer base. They lower inhibitions, causing employees to talk down to each other or disrespect each other without necessarily even knowing that they are doing so.

It creates a big mess that you, as the owner, have to then clean up. Coworker disputes resulting from marijuana breaks also falls into your list of daily tasks. It is so much easier to just ban the behavior to begin with. Of course, you will need to make sure that everyone is following procedure, so you will need to make sure that your drug screening program is operational and regularly implemented. That is where Mediscreen comes in.

Mediscreen brings onsite drug testing to you no matter where your company locations are in Australia.

Alcohol and drug testing can seem like a long involved process where you have to coordinate all of your employees and make sure that you get all of their test results back in. However, when you hire Mediscreen, things are under control. Fitness and wellness testing is also available from us, in addition to our onsite services. Mediscreen is here for you while you try to sort out the marijuana breakers and the regular smokers. Whenever you are ready to implement your drug testing program.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/personal-agendas-and-marijuana-breaks/

Drug Testing and Modern Equipment

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Drug testing did not used to be as refined of an art and science as it is today. In many cases, drug screening was so inaccurate as to make it almost wholly useless for any practical application. Since chemistry and technology have kept up with the general advance of drug screening practices, we have ways to detect the presence of illicit drugs by either oral screening or urine drug testing.

Modern equipment has really made the whole process of employee alcohol and drug testing so much easier, and therefore more cost effective and more reliable over time. In addition to that, modern equipment has made it possible to screen a large company full of employees in a relatively short amount of time.

Mediscreen is one of the mobile drug and alcohol testing agencies in Australia and we serve every part and remote corner of the country. We take pride in the equipment which we use and we understand that technology has made both our jobs and your jobs so much easier. What would have, in the past, required by going to a laboratory, freezing in the cold harsh waiting room, and finally being screened is now replaced with your drug testing agency coming to you, visiting your business, screening all of your employees right there onsite, and then taking our leave.

Now, isn’t that a simple, modern, classy way of doing things?

Employee screening is needed in every business in Australia, whether or not every business chooses to take advantage of it. If you are looking for a good company to work with, then look no further. Mediscreen is the company to choose. We use modern equipment from our sister company, CMM Technology, and we implement our services onsite. Drug testing in Australia is now easier than ever, while maintaining a high quality accuracy rating. Mediscreen is accredited by NATA for medical testing. We know that you are looking for the best company to compliment your business, and we believe that we are that business. Onsite drug testing is far more cost effective than typical laboratory testing, and Mediscreen makes the process as quick and efficient as possible, so that your own company can get back to work.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/drug-testing-and-modern-equipment/

A Little Bit of Energy Transfer

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This article is intended more for those of us who are naturally intuitive, or frequently use our intuition, throughout the day. I would like to broach a subject with which many long time married people may identify, but which many other people may not fully recognize. That is the topic of how someone’s spirit, energy, the essence of who they are, can travel between them and their spouse or long time partner.

When you live with someone for many years or you have been married to them and are around each other all of the time, then you may recognize this little phenomenon. You can almost “read” what your partner is thinking because your own intuition is so refined when it comes to this person. But, more than that, you can actually “feel” their presence around you, and I don’t mean in a physical sense, when you are feeling low or are going through a hard time. Their personal energy seems to just envelope in your love or comfort or whatever it is you need at the time.

This phenomenon is especially noticed when one or both people are traveling, and so therefore the couple is not together like they usually are. This means that, in spite of all logical reason, you may actually be able to pick up on their energy beside you at nighttime or holding you while you rest.

In business, it is very rarely that a boss and employee can form this kind of highly developed mutual understanding. However, if and when it does occur, it does come with various privileges which may or may not be useful. For instance, if you feel “in tune” enough with one of your employees, you may not believe that it is required of them to participate in drug testing.

Unfortunately, you can never know who will take up substance abuse and when they might do it. There is absolutely no way to know ahead of time. Therefore, Mediscreen, a company specializing in onsite AOD testing, is your solution to this lack of knowledge. We have NATA accreditation to AS4308 and AS4760, and we provide drug testing and alcohol screening nationwide. This is the kind of knowledge you need when you are not sure, when you can never really know for sure, about your employees.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/a-little-bit-of-energy-transfer/

The Game is Up

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Games are great, particularly when you are winning them. Games do not just refer to board games or outdoor sports, though. People play games with each other all of the time, seeking to deceive (at least temporarily), cover up, protect, or gain some sort of advantage. However, if you try to cheat, steal or otherwise break the rules of the game, and you are found out, the game is up.

The game is up entirely.

If one of your employees abuses substances while working for your company, they are breaking the rules of your business game. You have set up strategic operations, carefully set up boundaries, and put certain trustworthy people in charge of your setup. You have designed and implemented a very carefully placed and thoughtfully crafted game, and if your own workers are breaking the rules of the game, they are hurting both themselves and their fellow coworkers, who must take up the slack and be on their guard for unpredictable behavior.

That is not a good way to play the game.

Instead, put your faith in the ability of your faithful employees to carry out their duties, and in the meantime, implement drug testing on a regular basis, particularly onsite drug testing which is more convenient for everybody.

Mediscreen is the leading collection agency for Australian businesses, and we are proud to bring your basic worker health checks, and our mobile services to your place of business. Our drug testing knowledgebase is particularly useful for your business, and all of this can come directly to your worksite.

When you want the game to continue being played, make sure that everyone is following the rules. Synthetic drug testing is a part of make sure that your employees are following company policy, and that is important for you as a business owner and manager. What is more, pre-employment screening can aid in making sure that your workers are of a minimum caliber of employee before you hire them and spend money on their training and development. This is a game worth playing.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/the-game-is-up/

Following Company Regulations

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Your business was either founded by you or by someone who built it with a lot of safety mechanisms in place to protect both you and your employees. Following company regulations is important in not only maintaining legal protection, but also in maintaining an environment in which it is easy and satisfying to work. If your employees cannot predict what kind of job they will have day to day or month to month, if they cannot have certain expectations about the repetitiveness of the company in which they work, they are going to lose it and find that they are unable to comply with company regulations.

Of course, there are those who do not possess or who do not choose to have as many internal muscles holding them back when they are tempted to lash out or be flakey or responsible when things become tough.

By having a prescribed set of rules and seeing to it that everyone is following them, any company in the world can help maintain order and predictability for all of their employees. But for those who abuse illicit substances anyway, regardless of the consequences, you may desire to have consequences in place, ready for these actions. Synthetic drug testing from companies like Mediscreen provides a safe, fast, easy way to screening all of your employees. Mediscreen provides drug and alcohol screening for businesses all over Australia, and we do it onsite, that is to say that we come to your business, rather than all of your employees coming to ours. For more information, check out the rest of our website.

Workplace drug testing is safe, easy, and accurate with Mediscreen. Making sure that your company policies are being appropriately followed is very important. You must be able to hold to these policies if your business is to maintain its balance in the ever changing world around it. You never know what will happen to the marketplace, but with proper internal structure, there can be room for flexibility without too much leeway. Mediscreen is accredited by NATA to carry out onsite urine drug testing.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/following-company-regulations/

Fast, Cheap, and Good

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There is a business triangle that is commonly used among contractors and those you employ contractors, though it is applicable in just about every business situation. The triangle has, on its three sides, the words Fast, Good, and Cheap.

Now, in business, you can get a job done, but only with two of the sides of this triangle. For example:

You can get a job done Fast and Cheap, but it won’t be Good.

You can get a job done Well and Cheap, but it won’t be done Fast.

Or, you can get a job done Well and Fast, but you can’t get it done Cheaply.

That is the purpose of that particular business triangle. It delineates how projects can be accomplished and sets realistic expectations for how and when the project will be finished. Naturally, many business owners know this formula and understand the concept behind it.

Unfortunately, many company owners and managers do not always shop around when it comes to their drug testing provider. Many executives are either busy or assume that everyone is operating at pretty much the same basic cost, anyway. However, this could not be more inaccurate. Companies like Mediscreen, an onsite drug testing and alcohol testing provider throughout Australia, can provide both efficient and convenient services and at a price which is cheaper because they are not paying for the overhead costs on a laboratory.

Mediscreen is a high quality mobile drug and alcohol testing company, and we are NATA accredited to AS4308. We understand that your business needs reliability, convenience of onsite screening, friendly customer service, and a price that is not too high. Mediscreen has you covered in all of these areas.

Not only do we put a high value on what your business does, but we try to bring you all three sides of the Fast, Cheap, and Good triangle. We try to bring you everything so that, as our business clients, you are extremely happy with our services and will want to hire us forever. Our reputation is ready for whatever you might bring to the table. Try us out. Make sure that you put us through our paces. We enjoy a challenge.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/fast-cheap-and-good/

Expect Great Things

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Expect great things in your life. Expect all of the goodness and ferociousness and fearlessness and confidence that you should have in your life. Expect high quality drug and alcohol testing to make a statement in your ability correctly assess your workers. Expect your business to thrive and flourish, and expect to do well in business continually. When you grow, your business itself grows, for it is primarily endowed with your strength and with your spirit.

Onsite drug testing and alcohol testing companies all over Australia will attempt to bring alcohol testing and drug screening to your door. That is only part of the equation, though. Mediscreen is a part of the growing number of companies which provide high standard customer service, while also delivering quality drug and alcohol testing services to all of the sections, departments, and worksites of your company, no matter what size it is. We are flexible and we bring this flexibility and tenacity to the jobsite.

Drug screening is part of these great expectations. Why is this the case? In order to use our testing services, you must have a long term view of your company. You must see that your business will be in operation in the next fifty years, and you must then decide how much and how badly you wish to achieve that forward looking goal. We all grow up and separate ourselves from the old waste and the old lives which with which we no longer associate. Drug and alcohol testing is part of this new growth and this new opportunity with which to test our skills and our newfound knowledge. Mediscreen is NATA accredited for onsite drug testing, and we specialize in this new, powerful strength with which you can infuse your business and become a leader in your community.

Onsite drug and alcohol testing is a subsection of the drug screening industry, and Mediscreen brings you the best and the brightest of this power. Mediscreen is AS4308 accredited by NATA. When you and your company are looking for safety first, growth second, then Mediscreen is the right drug screening business for you. We are part of your great expectations.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/expect-great-things/

Working with Animals while Under the Influenc

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We can all imagine situations in which a drunk or high employee can endanger the lives or working conditions of their coworkers and themselves. We can all imagine situations in which heavy machinery is being operated by someone whose reflexes, judgment, or spatial abilities have been compromised. We can all picture a crane operator accidentally dumping a pile of bricks on a group of people. It is easy to envision things like this happening when we think of drug related work accidents.

However, there are other fields in which the results can be really horrible, as well. Child care centres can feature lost children, abused children, or neglected children. And, as for the animal care centres, this can include anything from neglect and angry abuse to experimentation to unnatural activities with the animals. When you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your normal reserved nature is compromised, your inhibitions are lowered, your mind wanders into new and strange fields of thought, all of which seem normal and down to earth to you.

Working with animals while under the influence can result in both harm to you and to the animal. If you are a park ranger or a zookeeper, you know what it is like to work with large, dangerous, predatory animals. Imagine what would happen if they were to smell a weakened state of “prey” upon you. And what would happen if they began to show warning signs and you needed to follow your training, your safety protocols, to protect yourself and others….but you don’t remember all of them or you don’t remember them fast enough?

Obviously, even wildlife refuges need to get their employees screened regularly. It is not only dangerous for the worker but for the community at large if a large predator gets loose due to the trainer or ranger being intoxicated in some manner. Make sure that your workers are all fit for duty and sober when they are at work. Regularly implement onsite drug testing and alcohol screening from Mediscreen. Mediscreen is an onsite AOD testing agency which is accredited to AS4760 by NATA. Make sure that both your animals and your people are safe.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/working-with-animals-while-under-the-influence/

Breakups and Alcohol

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Okay, we arrive at another article on romantic or other relationship breakups, and how this seems to inevitably lead to the over consumption and possible habit formation of alcohol. Well, most of us have been there. Many of us have experienced the intense, lightning pain of total rejection at the hands of someone we were in love with, or the absence of phone calls from someone we thought was our friend.

It becomes almost physically painful, at some point. It is not enough that they stomped on your heart and your feelings. Now, they are attacking your body. It can feel like this is the final straw before the camel’s back is truly broken, and you either lash out or “lash in,” so to speak. If you don’t end up sending them angry letters, you may turn around and pour alcohol by the bottles full. It is a terrible thing to end up broken up, even if you are the initiator, but an awareness of time passing and time changing the situation is what is really the most important.

You cannot gauge how much you will end up being hurt by a breakup of any kind, but no matter how bad it is, it is always best to feel the pain as it comes. Stop what you are doing, get somewhere private, and feel it. If you need to tense up your muscles or maul a punching bag, then do so. Don’t numb the pain, don’t dull it, and don’t put it off for another day. Get down and dirty with it, get messy, scream if you have to, cry if you have to, but feel the pain. Feel it all the way through.

Also, it is a good idea of being aware of what is going on with your employees, especially during times of personal crisis. Make sure that nothing gets out of hand by regularly implementing workplace drug test and alcohol screening. Mediscreen is NATA accredited for medical testing, but more than that, we are an onsite drug testing company. We come to you, not the other way around.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/breakups-and-alcohol/

Believe in Six Impossible Things

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In the legendary tale of Alice in Wonderland, Alice scorns the idea of believing in impossible things. The Queen replies by saying that she guessed that Alice really hadn’t had much practice. She goes on to say, “Why, I sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

When you look at the history of humankind, you can easily see that it wasn’t just one giant leap from inventing the wheel to I-Pads and laptops. There was a lot of believing in impossible things along the way….things which, eventually, grew into reality.

There was a time when workers didn’t have as many rights and privileges as they do today, and there was a time when employers would not be entirely sure if their dismissal of an employee had proper grounds or not. Today, with the help of drug and alcohol testing, that problem no longer exists, or at least is greatly reduced in size.

By using the scientific evaluative techniques found in workplace drug testing, company owners and managers such as yourself are able to correctly discern whether or not their employees are abusing drugs or alcohol while at work or right before arriving at work.

There was a time when being able to do this was considered phony or in the realm of witch doctors. It wasn’t true, or if it was, it was not by any scientific method employed thereon. Today, we have accuracy and protocol. Today, we have tools, chemistry, electronics, and light wavelengths, all of which allow us to do many different kinds of things, such as screening our employees for illicit substances in their bodies when they come to work.

What if all of this is just over the top?

Well, your company is legally liable to for any injuries which may occur on your worksite due to one of your employees being intoxicated with drugs or alcohol. That is a matter of finances and legality and your business reputation. That is pretty important. You can see how it would matter whether or not you have the paperwork and data to determine if any of your employees are not complying with company protocol. And, besides, Mediscreen is NATA accredited for onsite drug testing. We have NATA accreditation to AS4760 and AS4308. To learn more about the onsite drug and alcohol screening services we provide or to schedule an appointment with us.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/believe-in-six-impossible-things/

What Stress Factors Cause Employees To Turn To Drugs?

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The world is becoming more complicated every day as the digital revolution continues to evolve. The Internet has made research virtually instantaneous, and thus, has made business faster than ever. It seems at times that there is virtually no separation between working and not working. People are constantly working hard to further their careers by putting in extra effort to stand out; if they don’t, they fear that they will be overtaken by someone else who is putting in that extra effort. Thus, it’s virtually mandatory now to be working beyond the traditional 8A-4P, 9A-5P, 10A-6P time frames. This leads to all new types of stress factors not really present in the workplace of previous generations.

The Need To Do More

Due to the new business culture of working beyond traditional business hours, employees are now expected to do more, whether it’s conducting online research, writing papers, or preparing online presentations. Businesses are hiring fewer workers who are more qualified in many functions rather than just one main function.

Thus, a financial institution may not just want someone who is versed in finance, but who is also versed with graphic design so that he/she can create presentations to show to potential clients in an effort to close important deals. A business would rather hire one employee to do two to three functions nowadays rather than hire two to three separate employees to handle those two to three functions separately.

In the digital age, a business must be as streamlined as possible so that it can maximize revenues and minimize expenses. All of this added responsibility and expectations lead to increased stress on employees. Instead of just focusing on their majors from university, they have to broaden their skill sets to ensure they remain in good standing with their employers and stand the best chance of avoiding the dreaded layoff notice.

The Toll on Family Life

This isn’t the only stress that most employees face. The extra commitment to their careers takes more time and focus away from their families; thus, there is an extra strain on the family unit at home because the employee’s mind is on work-related issues more often than it should. This can spoil those moments when one should be paying attention to his/her partner and/or his/her kids.

While an employee is certainly not trying to be absent-minded when important family functions come up (i.e. birthdays, anniversaries, picnics, etc.), the pressures and stresses at the workplace can cause an employee’s mind to drift back to the office even when he/she is at home. There is often such a stressful atmosphere at the workplace that it constantly plays on the mind of an employee, preventing him/her from controlling his/her thoughts and emotions, which can spill over into family life. This can be in the form of yelling at one’s partner or children when yelling isn’t called for, etc. Essentially the employee is changed from the person he/she used to be due to the pressures at work.

Some employees are able to handle this increased workload and responsibility through perseverance and the help of family and friends. However, others resort to crutches such as recreational drugs to gain relief from the stress.

Drugs To Relieve The Stress Become An Uncontrollable Habit

At first, an employee will just try a drug because he/she thinks that it will do no harm and give him/her the relief he/she needs from the long, stressful day at work. He/She comes to find out that there is a “high” involved with the drug, causing the person to feel a euphoria that he/she hasn’t felt in a long time, if ever. The person likes this feeling, this “high,” that he/she feels from the drug. This leads him/her to go back to the drug on a repeated basis.

WebMD describes the behavior of drug addiction as a “chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the drug addict and those around them.” This leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain itself; this is why, contrary to popular belief, drugs are often not a voluntary choice. Yes, the initial decision to take a drug is usually voluntary, but repeated use of it is often due to a subconscious desire and lack of control because of the changes in the normal structure and function of the brain. The repetitious drug use becomes an uncontrollable habit that is best remedied by combining behavioral therapy with addiction treatment medications.

In order for an employee to receive that treatment, however, he/she needs to undergo drug screenings to determine that the employee has a drug addiction. Mediscreen is a NATA accredited national provider of on-site drug and alcohol testing support services that can help businesses identify employees who suffer from drug addictions so they can get the help they need.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/what-stress-factors-cause-employees-to-turn-to-drugs/

What Did the Report Say!? Sampling 101

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Most people have taken a statistics class at some point in their school career, but the reality is that after school the statistical learning often stops. When drug and alcohol testing companies like CMM Technology mention random testing, there is a good chance many workers have forgotten what the statistical method entails.

Employers, on the other hand, understand what random testing means. However, the ones who try to stay current on the latest research on drugs and alcohol are bound to run into terms that have little meaning.

Understanding the basics of sampling gives employers the tools needed to intelligently respond to staff questions, whilst recognising commonly used research terms makes the information in written materials easier to assimilate.

No Head Shaking

First things first: When a company says it will randomly test employees for drugs and alcohols there are certain principles assumed to be at work.

There is a definable method for selection of those to be testing

The selection method is objective, eliminating personal biases

There an equal probability that each person in the defined group of people 

identified for testing will be selected

There is an independent chance a person will be selected

The employer will not interfere in the selection process so that it remains random

The statistical population is the group targeted for random testing. It may be a department, the entire organisation, job titles designated as high-risk positions, and so on. Stratified random sampling is a term used to divide the entire population of employees into smaller groups based on shared attributes, like high risk job duties. The smaller groups are called strata. The random sample then draws a number of people for testing that is proportional to the stratum’s size when compared to the population.

Terms, Terms, and More Terms

Random sampling can actually be applied in a variety of ways. There is random sampling, simple random sampling, cluster sampling, spatial sampling, quota sampling, and so on. However, when employers are reading research reports they will also run into terms like those used in this sentence:”Respondent driven sampling, traditional snowball sampling and street outreach methods were used to recruit heroin and amphetamine injectors from one outer-urban and two inner-urban regions of Melbourne, Australia.”

This is a classic example of how critical information can get lost in a sea of words. Though the term “street outreach methods” is fairly obvious as to what it means, the term “snowball sampling” is unfamiliar to most. Snowball sampling is also called referral sampling or chain sampling because it is a method for identifying program participants by asking research participants for referrals. It is a non-probability sampling technique and no relationship to random sampling.

Respondent-driven sampling is a statistical method for combining snowball sampling with a mathematical model that compensates for the non-random sampling method. These terms and more are regularly used in articles discussing research on drug and alcohol addiction. Understanding the terms makes the information provided intelligible.

Catching Terms

There is general agreement that workplace data collections concerning drugs and alcohol are limited in terms of breadth and quality. It is impossible to understand the full extent of the problem until there is adequate data to assess. However, all the data that has been collected to date by various agencies and organisations all bolster the belief that workplace substance use is common, thus supporting the need for random alcohol and drug testing.

Terms get tossed about whilst people shake their heads in agreement as if they understand what is being discussed. They do not know what the terms mean but are unwilling to acknowledge they do not know, or they give up trying to stay informed. Mediscreen uses drug screening methodologies and procedures that reflect the best information obtained from toxicologists and industry experts. Coupled with a truly random selection of screening subjects, employers have the assurance that the right steps are being taken to minimise workplace drug and alcohol use.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/what-did-the-report-say-sampling-101/

Popular Employee Becomes Withdrawn? Is it Cocaine?

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Ecstasy can make people become more affectionate. Speed can make people feel more energetic. GHB has euphoric qualities. Depressants can produce feelings of contentment. These are all valid effects of illicit drugs, and if that is all that was revealed, it would lead to a person believing they are beneficial. Who does not want to feel affectionate, energetic, euphoric, or content?

However, these descriptions are the typically self-servings drug effects that substance abusers pick and choose to describe why they feel the need to use a particular illicit substance. What about the person who was once friendly and took part in all the social activities and bit by bit becomes withdrawn, if not anti-social? Studies of cocaine users indicate the same drug that produces an overall relaxing effect also leads to loss of feelings of empathy for other people and thus social skills decline.

Drugs on the Mind?

It is common to hear people say, “What is wrong with (insert name)? He used to be so friendly.” It may be the employee has a lot on his mind or is experiencing mild depression. Both of these situations often lead to withdrawal from social interaction. However, the person may be acting differently due to the effects of drug use.

The first point employers should keep in mind is the importance of maintaining objectivity. That is one of the advantages of implementing a random onsite AOD testing program. The results of the testing will produce objective results, giving the employer the information needed to take the next appropriate steps. In some cases, drug testing will confirm the employee is using drugs.

A recent study conducted at the Psychiatric Hospital at the University of Zurich found that cocaine users experience deteriorating social skills. The cognitive functioning involved in social reward is blunted, leading to cocaine addicts feeling less empathy. Specifically, brain imaging found that the medial orbitofrontal cortex activation was muted when a cocaine addict had contact with another person and both people then concentrated on a mutual object (like a conversation). This indicated the drug users found the contact experience less rewarding compared to someone who is not using cocaine. Also, it was discovered that the same blunted cognitive response occurred when there had been fewer social contacts made over the prior few weeks.

No Satisfaction

The researchers believe that regular cocaine users do not see social interaction as rewarding compared as those who do not use drugs. The drug user becomes less social and has difficulty developing empathy for others. The reduced reward cognitive experience may also contribute to the cocaine user’s seeming inability to stop using the drug after losing all important social relationships, like with family and friends or coworkers. As important social connections are lost, the drug user is more likely to stay addicted.

So is (insert name) a drug addict if he or she stops joining coworkers for lunch or will not attend non-mandatory group functions or ceases joking around? Maybe. Maybe not.

Employers are not psychologists, but they do need to understand that symptoms of drug addiction are varied. The only sure way to determine if someone is using drugs is through drug and alcohol screenings. Mediscreen is a NATA accredited national provider of onsite drug and alcohol testing support services and works with a variety of clients interested in implementing and maintaining a quality workplace drug testing program.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/popular-employee-becomes-withdrawn-is-it-cocaine/

Substance Abusers Don’t Want to Work. Right? Wrong!

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The man has been using drugs for approximately 10 years. About five years ago he started using ice (methamphetamine) and ended up homeless and poor, and alone after his girlfriend left him and his family connections were cut. His main quest each day was making the kinds of friends who would supply him with more ice.

This scenario is the image most people have of drug addicts. Addiction is like a beast that clings to the person and will not let go, destroying everything dear in their life. Getting a job was out of the question for the man in the example because he could not pass a drug test, and the drug’s effects on his body and mind were becoming severe. It is people like him who influence the image other people have of substance abusers, making them come to the conclusion that anyone regularly using drugs has no interest in working because all they want is more of the drug of choice.

Wanting a Life Back

It may come as a surprise that over 60 percent of Australian drug users are employed. They are not street-roaming addicts with bodies full of sores. They come to work most days, hiding their drug use. The same is true for alcoholics. In fact there is a term called high-functioning substance abuser, referring to people in high-level or responsible positions like executives, lawyers, health professionals, and so on. No one knows they drink heavily at home or are using drugs on and off the job. The workplace drug and alcohol testing programs have discovered people like nurses and airline pilots are using drugs or alcohol, which always surprises the public when the story breaks.

There are many myths about substance abusers. One of them is that they are mostly unemployed. A less discussed myth is that people using drugs and alcohol do not want to work. The man in the scenario turned to his mum for help when he hit rock bottom, and she took in him because she believed he was sincere about wanting to get off and stay off drugs. He is now trying to stay clean because he wants his life back, which includes friends who do not do drugs, trusting family relationships, and a job.

The Lessons of Myths

The Australian Job Access site addresses myths about employment and substance abuse. With millions of Australian drug users in the marketplace, the government is trying to dispel the myths to enlist employers in the effort to improve the lives of people who want to help themselves. Topping the list as Myth 1: People experiencing substance abuse don’t want to work. The truth: Many do want to work to help them stop or stay off drugs.2 Though employers are rightfully not interested in hiring anyone currently using drugs, there are lessons that can be learned from recognising the myth exists and then applying the new knowledge in workplace settings.

One lesson is that recognising the relationship of employment and self-esteem is important when delivering health education information or drug and alcohol testing. Any action the employer takes in the workplace should have purpose and respect people’s privacy whilst recognising that life is filled with pitfalls. This philosophy drives the Australian harm minimisation policy.

Not Always an Addict

Another lesson to keep in mind is that people with substance related issues will not always do poorly. Too many believe that once a drug addict, always a non-productive drug addict. The truth is that people who test positive for drugs or alcohol are often ready to accept counselling or treatment and get their life back on track.

The random drug and alcohol testing policy and procedures are designed to keep the workplace safe by identifying those who need to address substance use, whether as a continuing employee or a worker who must get help before becoming eligible for re-employment anywhere.

People often make assumptions that are wrongly based on myths. One of the advantages of using a formal drug and alcohol testing program, that incorporates Mediscreen’s screening system, is that the employer can rely on facts and not myths.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/substance-abusers-dont-want-to-work-right-wrong/

Weekend Work and Drinks Out

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There are inevitably times when the office or the work crew has to work on the weekends, and for situations like that, it can be helpful to go out for meals and drinks together throughout the weekend, particularly between segments of work periods. However, in order to avoid any intoxication while on the jobsite, you might want to follow some rules.

First, tell your workers that you want them to be clear headed when they return to work, so they should order their drinks during appetizes or snacks, and get the alcoholic rush over with early in the meal. This way, they can still have their drinks, but are sobering up or are already completely sober by the time they return to work.

Second, engage in some kind of physical activity when you do return to work after the meal. Even if you work in an office, you can help the janitorial staff by cleaning up the place, doing some vacuuming or floor scrubbing, washing some windows, or you can at least all go for a two mile walk before resuming your project. By engaging in physical exercise after drinks, you are helping their bodies to process the alcohol, metabolize it, and to get it out of your systems before you get back to work and regular interactions with each other.

Third, remember to always implement employee drug and alcohol testing. This cannot be emphasized enough. You never know what the score is unless you are keeping score. You must always be aware of any violations of your company’s policies, for legal protection reasons and for common sense reasons. For this, you need Mediscreen.

We have all of the onsite services you could possibly want. You can get drug and alcohol screening nationwide. Mediscreen is accredited to AS4308 by NATA. Our customer service is spectacular. Our friendliness is unwavering. If you want to do business with someone who you will enjoy to interact with, then Mediscreen is the company you should hire. Drug screening does not have to be some big deal, and your drug testing program does not have to be super complicated. You can get everything you need done, right there onsite, with Mediscreen.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/weekend-work-and-drinks-out/

A True Escape, A True Move

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Have you ever known someone who, despite all of their efforts and concentration on new goals, always seem to fall back into the same old rut? Whether or not their friends and coworkers laugh about this, just about everyone who knows them can predict where they will eventually end up, if left to their own devices.

Not everyone is able to break away from the habits and patterns which they have inevitably fallen into in their lifetimes. Not everyone is truly able to pull off the kind of change, the kind of permanent change, which is required for personal achievement, goal attainment, or simply getting their head back on straight.

A true escape, a true move away, from these problems involves trial and fire. If someone is not able to go through their own personal definition of “the worst case scenario” and keep their faith throughout that this is just temporary, then they will most likely not be able to encounter future opportunities for growth. This is simple. They just cannot handle it. And, we all know that if you are unable to handle something, it will quickly leave you, whether this be a person, money, or just a desirable situation.

True escape lies in being able to control and govern yourself first. Nothing else can be achieved without this hardest of all moves. And those who are wise know that it is impossible to control other people….in any way, shape, or form.

The best that you, as the business owner, can hope for is to be able to identify problem employees through the use of drug and alcohol screening.

Mediscreen steps into this need seamlessly. We provide you with all of the alcohol and drug testing for which you could possible wish. We not only do that, but we are an onsite company, so we bring our services to your place of business, your offices, your jobsite locations, anywhere in Australia in which your business happens to exist. Mediscreen is accredited to AS4308 and AS4760 by NATA. We are proud of this accreditation, but by far, are we are much prouder to have you and your company as business clients.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/a-true-escape-a-true-move/

Appreciation Wins over Speculation

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We all love to feel appreciated. Remember, when you were courting your best girl or guy, how good it felt for them to give you compliments, for them to plan special gifts and surprises for you, and how good it felt for them to just hang over your every word and look. Remember how good that felt?

Now, picture how things were after you had been in a long term relationship for a long time. There was a lot of speculation, wasn’t there? “If you would just take out the trash, the kitchen wouldn’t smell this bad.” “If you actually exercised a little bit three times a week, only a little bit, then you would be in the same shape you were in college.” Well, you get the picture.

Appreciation wins over speculation every time. Every….single…..time.

Of course, when you’re in business, you can hardly “court” your employees, nor would you want to. However, you may find it helpful to really exude the “public persona” of someone who wishes to appear as well and gracious in public as possible, even if you are dealing with employees who have been with you for over twenty years.

The personal touch, that added little bit of appreciation, really makes a huge difference to people. But this personal touch is lost in business transactions with your clientele and business partners if one of your employees shows up to work under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. So, for this, you need regularly scheduled drug testing. It’s not only a good idea, but pretty much necessary in order for you to be able to maintain control over your business without taking it too far and trying to control your employees themselves.

So, take a look at Mediscreen, a drug screening company which provides onsite services all over Australia. We are NATA accredited to AS4308, and we have invested a great deal in developing a drug and alcohol screening process which will bring added convenience to your wonderful business and make things so much easier for you and your workers, alike. Accurate results, onsite employee record storage, and a friendly attitude typifies the kind of interaction you can expect to get when you choose Mediscreen.

This article has been taken from : http://www.mediscreen.net.au/appreciation-wins-over-speculation/