Reactions to Employer Policies Regarding Prescription Drugs and Medical Marijuana: The Role of Safety Sensitivity

Purpose Given the prevalence of drugs in the lives of many workers, employers often face difficult decisions about how to reconcile their drug use policies with employees' health needs. This is compounded by laws in 17 U.S. states and the District of Columbia that now legalize medical marijuana and that are in direct conflict with federal drug-free workplace laws. The purpose of the present studies was to examine employee attitudes toward workplace policies regarding prescription drugs and medical marijuana. Design/Methodology/Approach We conducted two experimental studies (students with work experience and nurses) to examine employee attitudes about policies ranging from a drug-free workplace to accommodation of prescription drugs and medical marijuana. Findings The perceived safety sensitivity of jobs moderated the perceived fairness of workplace drug policies. Employees who perceived their jobs as low in safety sensitivity reported more favorable reactions to policies allowing prescription drugs than policies allowing medical marijuana. In contrast, employees in high safety-sensitive jobs did not differentiate between the two drugs, reacting equally negatively to policies accommodating either drug. Nurses rated organizations with drug-free policies as most attractive. Originality/Value These are the first studies to examine employee attitudes toward workplace policies regarding medical marijuana and prescription drugs, integrating perceived safety sensitivity as a key moderator to better understand these attitudes.