Drug-Free Work Week, 2006
Purpose/Description:
Drug-Free Work Week is a DOL-led campaign to highlight the value of drug-free workplace programs and promote resources available to achieve safe, healthy and drug-free work environments. The purpose of Drug-Free Work Week is to educate employers and employees about the importance of being drug free to improving workplace safety and health and to encourage workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help and return as productive members of the workforce. Drug-Free Work Week is a collaborative effort between DOL and the 13 members of its Drug-Free Workplace Alliance, a cooperative program focused on improving safety and health in the construction industry through drug-free workplace programs. However, employers and workers in all industries are encouraged to take part.
Proposed Timetable:
To emphasize the role drug-free workplaces play in fostering drug-free families and communities, as well as the benefits to workers and employers when the business sector is engaged in addressing addiction, Drug-Free Work Week will be publicized during National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (September) but take place October 16-22 to coincide with the renewal of DOL’s Drug-Free Workplace Alliance.
Proposed Activities:
Activities during the inaugural Drug-Free Work Week observance will focus primarily on establishing the week as an annual event, generating media interest and engaging key agencies and organizations. DOL will:
- Issue a DOL press release announcing Drug-Free Work Week and ways employers, unions and others can participate, as well as resources available to help implement drug-free workplace programs that foster recovery;
- Develop a DOL Working Partners Web page outlining actions employers, unions and others can take to promote Drug-Free Work Week;
- Conduct targeted outreach to encourage organizations to promote Drug-Free Work Week through speeches, press releases, publications, Web sites and other media; and
- Distribute promotional materials (i.e., posters, banners, stickers) publicizing Drug-Free Work Week and featuring the slogan “Working Drug-Free Works.”
Other governmental and non-governmental organizations are encouraged to recognize and publicize Drug-Free Work Week by publishing articles in trade publications or on-line magazines, sending e-mail alerts to constituent lists and linking to the dedicated Working Partners Drug-Free Work Week Web page.
