Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco: A Toolkit For Employers

Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco: A Toolkit For Employers

Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco: A Toolkit For Employers

By using Business in the Community’s (BITC) Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco toolkit, produced in association with Public Health England, you can reduce employees’ sickness, absence, and improve their mental wellbeing and productivity. It includes simple, practical steps you can follow to embed a positive and open culture. It will help you pick out the best free resources that will be most useful to you and your team, and help you develop an approach that fits the needs of your staff and organisation.

bitc-wellbeing-image-drugsalcoholtobaccoinfographic-may2018Download the Toolkit

The toolkit includes:

  • a clear, staged checklist of actions for employers of all sizes
  • an adaptable framework for a drugs, alcohol and tobacco policy
  • a summary of key legislation relating to drugs and alcohol use in England
  • case studies from a range of organisations.

This toolkit has been informed by an evidence review produced by the Public Health England Library Team, which considered evidence from practitioners, professionals and business experts who also helped source and shape the content of the toolkit. It also draws on the experience of organisations supporting their employees to make healthier choices concerning alcohol, drugs and tobacco. The Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco toolkit also signposts external organisations that offer advice and support to employers and employees.

bitc-wellbeing-image-drugsalcoholtobaccoinfographic-may2018Download the Infographic

The case studies in this toolkit have been written following consultation with experts working in relevant sectors, and through the contribution of employers who are taking these topics seriously. The case studies include employers sharing real-world examples of the initiatives they have trialled to support employees.

The toolkit explains:

  • the legal context that will inform your approach
  • how to manage issues arising from the use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco 
  • how to monitor and evaluate the impact of your approach.

Explore all eight BITC and Public Health England Health and Wellbeing Toolkits

Developed by Business in the Community in collaboration with Public Health England (PHE), this suite of eight toolkits, available below, helps employers take positive actions to build a culture that champions good mental and physical health for employees. The toolkits also provide a greater understanding of how to help those who need more support.

Explore the topical toolkits below, and explore the Health and Wellbeing at Work toolkit for a summary resource of all seven other toolkits.

Crisis Management In The Event Of A Suicide: A Postvention Toolkit For Employers, developed with support from Samaritans, offers practical advice for employers to follow in the aftermath of an employee suicide.

Domestic Abuse Toolkit. This toolkit, sponsored by The Insurance Charities, provides support and guidance for employers in responding to the risk of domestic abuse.

Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco: A Toolkit For Employers. Supporting your employees wellbeing to reduce sickness, absence, and improve mental wellbeing and productivity.

Mental Health for Employers Toolkit. This toolkit helps employers select the most valuable resources, and  to develop an approach that works. For larger organisations, the toolkit is also a useful resource to share with businesses in their supply chain and across their network.

Good musculoskeletal (MSK) health is integral to a full working life. It supports us with functional mobility and dexterity, balance and coordination, and contributes to muscular strength and endurance; essential to nearly all forms of work. It also enables us to stay physically and mentally fit and reduce the occurrence of other health problems. Action should be taken at all ages to invest in enhancing education, awareness and opportunities to engage in understanding good MSK health and how to reduce the risks of developing an MSK problem.

We are currently in the processes of refreshing this resource to reflect shifting needs of UK employers and employees.

Reducing the risk of suicide. This toolkit provides support and advice on how to incorporate suicide prevention into an employer’s workplace health and wellbeing framework. It was developed with support from Samaritans.

Sleep and Recovery Toolkit. This toolkit sponsored by Anglian Water, offers insight and advice on addressing the increasingly damaging sleep-loss epidemic affecting the nation.