Discussion The importance of flexibility being able to work from home or other mobile environments). It can lead to higher levels of satisfaction among both employers and employees. And it can, in turn, lead to more satisfied customers, higher profits, and a better return for shareholders.48 Marijuana seems to threaten this balance. As the scenario above describes, flexibility can be affected even before anyone is hired. And that scenario is not fiction. In Rhode Island, a woman is suing the Darlington Fabrics Corporation and its parent, the Moore Rhode Island’s medical Company, because they decided not to hire her after learning she marijuana law was a medical marijuana user. Rhode law specifically Island’s specifically protects use protects marijuana users in the workforce. This case challenges the in the workplace. Does bounds of that protection are job applicants protected too? that protection apply – to job applicants as well? The Washington DC City Council passed a bill to prohibit employers from drug-testing employees for marijuana before a conditional job One of the offer has been made. Once the hiring has taken place, however, the steepest employee must adhere to the drug policy. employer’s challenges for organizations to A costly legal battle lies ahead as that question gets sorted out. overcome is the Because marijuana use threatens the safety of workers, as recruitment and discussed in a previous section, flexibility is also affected. retention of a talented, skilled Will employers still be able to shift employees to different jobs workforce. within the company? Workplace flexibility should For example, a company that rotates its employees from one job to include provisions another to give them an understanding of each job and what it takes on the employer for the company to be successful will no longer be able to provide side (e.g. the such flexibility if case law determines that the use of medical ability to move marijuana is a protected status. Some jobs in almost every company employees around are safety-sensitive to one degree or another, a factor that will or adapt to greatly limit some ability to experience all aspects of the employees’ changing business. conditions at minimal cost) and provisions on the employee side (e.g. the ability to take on new and interesting assignments or
Discussion The importance of flexibility Rhode Island’s medical marijuana law specifically protects use in the workplace. Does that protection apply to job applicants as well? One of the steepest challenges for organizations to overcome is the recruitment and retention of a talented, skilled workforce. Workplace flexibility should include provisions on the employer side (e.g. the ability to move employees around or adapt to changing conditions at minimal cost) and provisions on the employee side (e.g. the ability to take on new and interesting assignments or being able to work from home or other mobile environments). It can lead to higher levels of satisfaction among both employers and employees. And it can, in turn, lead to more satisfied customers, higher profits, and a better return for shareholders.48 Marijuana seems to threaten this balance. As the scenario above describes, flexibility can be affected even before anyone is hired. And that scenario is not fiction. In Rhode Island, a woman is suing the Darlington Fabrics Corporation and its parent, the Moore Company, because they decided not to hire her after learning she was a medical marijuana user. Rhode Island’s law specifically protects marijuana users in the workforce. This case challenges the bounds of that protection – are job applicants protected too? The Washington DC City Council passed a bill to prohibit employers from drug-testing employees for marijuana before a conditional job offer has been made. Once the hiring has taken place, however, the employee must adhere to the employer’s drug policy. A costly legal battle lies ahead as that question gets sorted out. Because marijuana use threatens the safety of workers, as discussed in a previous section, flexibility is also affected. Will employers still be able to shift employees to different jobs within the company? For example, a company that rotates its employees from one job to another to give them an understanding of each job and what it takes for the company to be successful will no longer be able to provide such flexibility if case law determines that the use of medical marijuana is a protected status. Some jobs in almost every company are safety-sensitive to one degree or another, a factor that will greatly limit some employees’ ability to experience all aspects of the business.
What_Will_Legal_Marijuana_Cost_Employers-Complete-1-2015.docx