Managing Human Resources, Eight Edition

Employee Rights Challenges: A Balancing Act

Four workplace issues are particularly challenging to HR professionals and managers because they require walking a thin line between the rights of employees and those of management: (1) random drug testing, (2) electronic monitoring, (3) whistle-blowing, (4) moonlighting, and (5) office romance.

Random Drug Testing

The practice of random drug testing pits management’s duty to protect the safety of its employees and customers against an employee’s right to privacy. Random drug testing screens employees for the use of drugs randomly, without suspicion or cause. The test usually includes the analysis of a urine specimen provided by the employee.

Many employees consider random drug testing an unreasonable ...