Can all our supervisors receive the same substance abuse training?

Some state laws require training to cover certain issues or meet a time limit, and when those requirements are in place they must be followed.

In other situations, much of the training for your supervisors could be the same. For example, all supervisors would benefit from training on the signs of drug and alcohol abuse, how to document what is seen, how to talk to an employee suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the steps that are taken under your policy when substance abuse is suspected. In addition, training on confidentiality and discrimination issues is beneficial for all supervisors.

It would be helpful for the training to include examples that relate to the supervisor’s role. Supervisors who work with drivers would benefit from training that relates to that occupation, for example, while safety managers could benefit from training that talks about handling post-accident testing. Other groups of managers would also benefit from training that includes examples of situations they might encounter in the workplace.