Do my supervisors need to have reasonable suspicion training?

Reasonable suspicion training for supervisors may be required in states where an employer is complying with a voluntary law to obtain a discount on workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wyoming have workers’ compensation premium reduction laws that include supervisor training.

In addition, supervisor training in reasonable suspicion of drug or alcohol use is required in Maine, Montana, and West Virginia under a state substance abuse testing statute.

Even where not required, however, supervisor reasonable suspicion training is still a best practice. It is often up to the supervisor to take the first steps to address a workplace drug or alcohol problem. Training can help a supervisor learn the signs of substance abuse, properly work through the reasonable suspicion process, and handle the issue when it arises.