Workplaces and Substance Use: Non-Safety-Sensitive Positions

Provides key context, data, and recommendations on improving the substance use health of employees for employers and other partners (e.g., unions, associations, health professionals) from industries with non-safety-sensitive positions, based on input from the focus group study with workers in non-safety-sensitive positions within these industries. This brief is part of the Workplaces and Substance Use series.

Three key points of interest you will find in the document:

• About 1 in 10 (13%) employees and 2 in 10 managers (22%) in non-safety-sensitive positions reported consuming alcohol or other drugs within two hours before work, during work, or being hungover, intoxicated or feeling high while at work.
• Between 11% and 23% of employees and managers thought that substance use in general was an issue in their workplace.
• About half (54%) of participants felt that they could safely and confidentially tell their managers if they were experiencing alcohol or drug use issues without fear of discrimination, stigmatization or discipline.