Don’t ignore legal highs, employers warned

Employers should not ignore the growing use of legal highs and the risks they pose in the workplace, a Midlands employment specialist has said.

Amber Bate

Amber Bate, an award winning lawyer with FBC Manby Bowdler, said bosses must clearly stipulate their policy on the use of the psychoactive substances, many of which are freely available for people to buy.

She said the danger they pose in a work environment shouldn’t be overlooked even though they are not banned drugs.

“The increasing use of legal highs present a similar problem for employers as alcohol for instance. It does not need to be illegal to have a potentially dangerous impact if employees are under the influence at work,” explained Amber.

“Employers always need to have a transparent alcohol and drugs policy that is clearly communicated to staff and they should look at reviewing this now to include the usage of legal highs.”

Amber, who was named Junior Professional of the Year in the 2015 Wolverhampton Law Society awards, said legal highs did pose a challenge to companies who use drug testing on employees.

“It can be hard to identify legal highs as the compounds that make them up do change. It may be easier for the policy to focus on the effects the drugs have on employees in terms of their behaviours and ability to work, rather than the drugs themselves.

“This is especially important in companies where workers are operating vehicles or machinery.

“Even if workers may not be consuming them at work, drinking or drug taking can have a direct impact on a person’s safety at work, not to mention productivity or performance and also lead to time off,” she said.

FBC Manby Bowdler has offices in Wolverhampton and Willenhall as well as Shrewsbury, Telford and Bridgnorth. For more information, go to www.fbcmb.co.uk.