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Ms. Butler has been in assisting governments, industry and labour associations,
and private business in dealing with the issue of workplace alcohol
and drug issues since starting her business in 1989. She has worked
with organizations in a wide variety of sectors across the country to
help them develop and implement alcohol and drug policies. This has
included the development of communications strategies and awareness
and education programs to meet unique corporate needs, the design and
delivery of supervisor training programs (including most recently online
training) and the contracting for and setting up of Substance Abuse
Professional and testing services as appropriate under the company policy.
She has been directly involved
in most of the Canadian legal cases on this issue as we gain a better
understanding of the boundaries the courts, human rights tribunals,
and arbitrators are setting for company programs. As well, she has ongoing
involvement in the implementation and refinement of policies and programs
across Canada to meet U.S. regulatory requirements for motor carriers
entering the United States.
Ms. Butler is the subject
expert for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, the Alberta Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Commission, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police workplace
education initiative. In addition, she is a regular speaker at national
and international seminars and conferences, and was an invited participant
and facilitator at the first U.N. conference on Alcohol and Drugs in
the Workplace (Seville, 1993), and an invited speaker on the Canadian
approach to workplace policies at the 13th International Conference
on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (Adelaide, Australia, 1995), at
the Second European Symposium on Workplace Drug Testing (Rimini, Italy,
2000), at the World Forum 2002: Drugs, Dependencies and Society (Montreal)
and at the Fourth Euopean symposium on workplace Testing (Dublin, Ireland
2005).
Further information on the
services provided to clients, recent publications and presentations
is listed below. Additional detail about the company can be obtained
by contacting the company directly at:
barb@butlerconsultants.com
CLIENT SERVICES SPECIFIC TO
WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
i) Policy Development and Implementation:
- Policy Development: Companies
are assisted in identifying their specific needs and developing a
reasonable and responsible policy and implementation plan to meet
those needs. The process can include:
- undertaking a comprehensive
evaluation/audit of current policies and advising on modifications
or upgrades; and/or
- facilitating the work
of an internal project team and providing them with the background
information, tools and advice needed to understand the issues and
design a new policy;
- guidance in assessing
program needs, drafting a policy to meet those needs, and working
closely with the company to refine and finalize it;
- guiding a collaborative
process that allows for the participation of representatives from
various parts of the organization (broader policy consultation); and
- advising on and guiding
employee surveys if required/desired.
- Executive Briefings:
Briefings are regularly provided to management teams, unions, industry
associations, and assistance organizations to help them understand
the critical issues involved within a Canadian context.
- Policy Implementation:
Advice and assistance is provided in:
- the detailed design of
various policy components, including programs of peer prevention/referral,
the set up of testing programs if required, and the design and delivery
of supervisor training and awareness and education programs;
- clarification of program
needs in the areas of employee assistance or counselling services,
alcohol and drug testing, and substance abuse professional services
among others, and contracting the most appropriate service providers;
- the development of communication
strategies needed during the policy development process, supporting
policy announcement, and as appropriate on an on-going basis;
- the establishment of processes
for ongoing, or 'point in time' evaluation of policy effectiveness.
- Education/ Training:
The firm also develops and delivers employee education sessions on
workplace issues associated with alcohol and other drugs, and delivers
comprehensive supervisor training programs to assist managers and
supervisors in understanding drug use and performance, their company
policy, their specific responsibilities under the policy, and ways
to overcome difficulties in meeting any challenges to implementation.
Training can be either directly delivered to supervisors, through
a process of training internal trainers, or through an easily accessible
and utilized internet approach.
ii) Strategic Planning:
- Assistance is provided
to provincial and federal government departments, private sector organizations
and industry associations so that they can better understand the relevant
issues and develop a strategic response based on their specific needs,
responsibilities, and perspectives.
iii) Research and
Analysis Services:
- A library of relevant
Canadian and international scientific, statistical and research data
is maintained on an ongoing basis, along with a library of legal decisions,
position papers, policies, presentation papers and other significant
data on this topic. In this way, clients receive the most recent and
appropriate information to assist them in considering policy and program
decisions. Research and analysis services on specific topics is provided
on an as-required basis.
iv) Legal Issues:
- Ms. Butler has testified
on a number of occasions as an expert witness on workplace alcohol
and drug policies and related matters. She has provided assistance
to legal counsel on alcohol and drug policy issues in connection with
case preparation, including arbitrations, human rights tribunals,
and coroners inquests.
v) Regulatory Compliance:
- Clients are provided with
ongoing monitoring and assessment of the U.S. regulatory program requirements,
including assessment of direct implications for Canadian and cross-border
operations; and assistance in the design and implementation of programs
that will meet these requirements within the Canadian context.
vi) Training on Policy
Issues:
- Ms. Butler is consulted
on workplace alcohol and drug policy issues on an ongoing basis. At
critical times, input has been provided to such organizations as Labour
Canada, Transport Canada, the Senate Transport Committee, Health Canada,
and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. She has trained
the RCMP Drug Education Officers across Canada on “Drugs in
the Workplace” policies and programs and has developed a comprehensive
new training course which will be delivered by officers in workplaces
across the country starting in 2006.
SEMINARS/CONFERENCES
WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Since her initial involvement with this issue in 1987, Ms. Butler has
been an invited speaker at conferences throughout North America, and
has organized and conducted seminars for companies, industry associations
and other organizations on a variety of aspects of this issue. This
has included an extensive number of policy development seminars for
petroleum industry contractors since the mid 1990’s. Examples
of other sessions she has spoken at in recent years include:
2005:
- Privacy Rights and Effective
Workplace Investigations (Dealing with Workplace Alcohol and Drug
Incidents – Toronto, January)
- Emerging Issues in Police
Labour Relations (Dealing with Alcohol and Drug Issues in Police Organizations
– Ottawa, March)
- Construction Labour Relations
(Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Construction Industry – Toronto,
April)
- Ontario Motor Coach Association
Annual Conference (Developing Effective Alcohol and Drug Policies
– Toronto, April)
- New Brunswick Workplace
Conference (Developing Effective Alcohol and Drug Policies –
Bathurst, June)
- 4th Symposium on Workplace
Drug Testing – Introduction of Workplace Programs in Canada
(Dublin Ireland, June)
- Action Alberta 2005:
Northern Alberta Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Safety at Work –
Duty to Accommodate (Edmonton, October)
- Conference Board of Canada
Seminar for Council of Human Resources Executives West -Alcohol and
Drug Policy Development and Implementation (Calgary, November)
- Employer Seminar on Workplace
Prevention and Assistance, Brant County Health Unit (Brantford, November)
- Employer Seminar on Alcohol
and Drug Policy Issues, Peel Region Health Unit (Brampton, November)
- Reinventing Union-Management
Partnerships Conference, (Dealing with Workplace Alcohol and Drug
Issues, Toronto, December)
2004:
- Workplace Strategies for
Substance Abuse, Employee Assistance Program Association of Toronto
(EAPAT), (Toronto, January)
- Privacy Rights and Effective
Workplace Investigations (Dealing with Workplace Alcohol and Drug
Incidents – Halifax, September
- 24th Annual WHSCC Health
and Safety Conference (Moncton, N.B. October)
- Action North 2004 sessions
on Employer Responsibility re. Substance Abuse and Bill C-45: Due
Diligence in the Workplace (Prince George, B.C. October)
- Workplace Drug and Alcohol
Liability Workshop, Porcupine Health Unit (Timmins, October )
- Employer Seminar on Workplace
Prevention and Assistance, Durham Health Unit (Oshawa, November)
- New Issues in Alcohol
and Drug Policies and Testing, Ontario Motor Coach Association Annual
Conference (Toronto, November)
2003:
- Privacy Laws and Effective
Workplace Investigations (Dealing with Workplace Alcohol and Drug
Incidents – Toronto, January)
- Building on our Successes:
Effective First Nation Human Resource Management 2003, Sponsored by
Ogemawahj Tribal Council (Barrie, January)
- Council of Industrial
Relations Executives Meeting, Conference Board of Canada (Calgary,
February)
- Safety and Performance:
Addressing substance abuse in the workplace, Sponsored by Alberta
Building Trades Council and Construction Labour Relations, and RCMP
(Edmonton, October)
- York Region Annual Business
Conference Keynote Speaker (Richmond Hill, October)
2002:
- Arbitration and Employment
Litigation Conference (Toronto, January)
- Reinventing Union Management
Partnerships Conference, Federated Press (Toronto, April)
- World Forum 2002: Drugs,
Dependencies and Society - Impact and Responses (Montreal, September)
- Making the Case for Workplace
Alcohol Policies: An Overview of Employer Liability and Legal Responsibilities,
Sponsored by the Alcohol Policy network of the Ontario Public Health
Association (Toronto, November)
2001:
- Northern Offshore Industry
Association Seminar (St. John’s NFL March)
- New Developments in Workplace
Privacy, Lancaster House Conference (Toronto, April)
- Drugs, Driving and the
Workplace, Canadian Society of Forensic Sciences Meeting (Toronto,
November)
- Input 2001: 14th Biennial
Symposium on Employee and Family Assistance Programs in the Workplace
(Toronto, November)
2000:
- 2000 Petroleum Services
Association of Canada Oilfield Transportation Conference; four seminars
for Management and Operations on relevant issues regarding Alcohol
and Drugs in the Workplace (Edmonton, April)
- Assistance 2000: Effective
Solutions at Work - Alberta’s Employee Assistance Program Conference
(Slave Lake, May)
- Effective First Nation
Human Resource Management 2000, Sponsored by Ogemawahj Tribal Council
(Orillia, May)
- Northern B.C. Business
Council on Substance Abuse: Action North IV, Keynote and seminars
(Prince George B.C., October)
- Introduction of Workplace
Testing Programs in Canada - Second European Symposium on Workplace
Drug Testing (Rimini, Italy, October)
- Employer Drug and Alcohol
Policies vs. Collective Agreement Obligations; Panel Presentation,
Federated Press (November)
PUBLICATIONS:
WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Ms. Butler is the author of the book, Alcohol and Drugs in the Workplace,
which was published by Butterworths in September, 1993.
She has been a contributor
to Canadian H.R. Reporter, Canadian Employment Law Today,
the CMCC (Canadian Motor Carrier Consortium) Newsletter, and
to various industry association newsletters in Canada. She has also
provided a series of papers published as part of the conference proceedings
(as outlined in the listing of Seminars and Conferences). Other publications
include:
- How To: Introduce a
New Alcohol and Drug Policy,
HR Professional, August 2004
- Dealing with Workplace
Alcohol and Drug Issues: Employer Responsibilities and Options, and
Implementing Alcohol and Drug Testing Programs, Canadian Occupational
Safety, August 2004
- Developing a Company
Alcohol and Drug Policy,
published in Drug & Alcohol Abuse and The Family Manual, September
2003
- It’s Time to
Give Your Drug Testing Program a Check-up (addressing cross-border
carrier issues),
Today’s Trucking, May 2000.
- Workplace Alcohol and
Drug Programs - What Should Your Company be Doing?
Human Resources and Labour Relations Bulletin, April 1999, Fraser
Milner.
- Marijuana - A Risk
to the Canadian Workplace?
Occupational Health and Safety, Canada, January/February 1999.
- Workplace Alcohol and
Drug Programs: Development, Implementation and Legal Overview,
(with R. MacDougall) Published by Canadian Bar Association, Annual
Conference Proceedings, August 1998.
- Issues for Consideration
when Introducing Employee Alcohol and Drug Testing, in The Drug Testing
Controversy: Imperial Oil and other Lessons,
Canada Labour Views Special Report, May 1997, Carswell Publishing
- Alcohol and Drug Testing
in Canada published
in Occupational Health and Safety, Canada, January 1997
- A Guide for Small Carriers:
Developing a Company Alcohol and Drug Policy & Compliance with
U.S. Department of Transportation Testing Regulations, October,
1996, distributed in conjunction with the Canadian Motor Carrier Consortium
- Training for Supervisors
- Student Manual: Company Alcohol and Drug Policy and U.S. Department
of Transportation Requirements, February 1996, distributed in
conjunction with the Canadian Motor Carrier Consortium and updated
on an ongoing basis.
- What U.S. Drug and
Alcohol Regulations Will Mean for Canadian Transportation Companies,
Lancaster's Health and Safety Law Reporter. January/February, 1996
- Developing a Company
Alcohol and Drug Policy, published in Drug and Alcohol Abuse and
the Family Manual, Winter 1996
- Update on Alcohol and
Drug Testing Programs in the Motor Carrier Industry, distributed
through Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, December 1995
- Questions & Answers
on New Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policies, The Counselor, Fall 1995
- Employee Opinion: Workplace
Alcohol and Other Drug Use, published in Proceedings of the 13th
International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, CN
Kloeden and A.J.McLean Editors, Adelaide Australia, August 1995
- Employee Drug Testing
in Canada: Motor Carrier Industry,
published in Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Alcohol,
Drugs and Traffic Safety, CN Kloeden and A.J. McLean Editors, Adelaide
Australia, August 1995
- Critical Issues in
Workplace Testing Programs, printed in “Substance Abuse
& The Workplace System: A Resource Package", Ontario Addiction
Research Foundation, April, 1995
- Developing a Company
Alcohol and Drug Policy,
Canadian Labour Law Journal, Summer 1994
- Workplace Substance
Abuse, Family Health, Vol.8 No.3, 1993
- Behavioural Tests to
Assess Performance published in Drug Testing in the Workplace: Research
Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems, Volume 11, Plenum Press,
1994
- Workplace Substance
Abuse: Responding to Transport Canada's Substance Use Prevention Legislation,
Occupational Health and Safety, Canada, April 1993
- Workplace Substance
Abuse: The Need for Action, Accident Prevention, September/October,
1992
- Guidelines for the
Development of an Alcohol and Drug Policy, published by the Canadian
Petroleum Association, March 1992
- Substance Abuse: Developing
a Policy Based on Employee Commitment, Health in the Workplace,
December 1990: republished in The Best of Health in the Workplace,
1992
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