Courses

Risk

Reasonable Suspicion

Course Code: 01-07-ER15

Reasonable Suspicion is a suspicion that is based on facts, circumstances, and observations. It is more than just an intuition or feeling and it must be founded on specific and articulable facts. These facts could be direct observation, such as seeing someone use drugs or alcohol, or they could be circumstantial, such as observing someone with the physical signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol use.

Some examples of Reasonable Suspicion are:

  • Observing someone consuming drugs or alcohol at work
  • Observing someone coming to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Observing someone behaving erratically or out of character
  • Receiving a report from a credible source that an employee is using drugs or alcohol

In this training, the trainee will come away with a much better understanding of why this is such an important topic in the workplace. By discovering the effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace, participants realize how crucial it is to identify and document these issues.

This training is important for all professionals who may come into contact with employees under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It will help them understand the process and how to properly document and approach the situation. This will ensure that agencies are in compliance with their own policies, as well as state and federal law.

Unique to this training is that Paul asks participants to discover their own agencies policies and supporting documents, if any, and bring them to class.  The last segment will be tailored to each participant’s agencies requirements. 

Objectives - At the end of this training, participants will be able to:

  •  Understand what Reasonable Suspicion is and how to identify it
  • Learn about common indicators and signs of drug/alcohol use
  • Understand how to document and approach the situation
  • Have active conversations and practice enforcing their agency’s drug free workplace policies

Prerequisite: Discover and bring their own agencies policy and preferred procedure for Drug Free Workplace along with any supporting forms.

Competencies: Continued growth and learning, personal and professional development, improves morale, risk reduction

Intended Audience: Supervisors