The Impact of Marijuana and Opioids on the Workplace
We’re all talking about marijuana these days. More than half of the states in our country now allow for medical marijuana cards, legal recreational use or both—and the trend is increasing. On the flip side, the use and possession of marijuana remains a violation of federal law. Where does all of this leave employers who are trying to establish and enforce drug-free workplaces? And marijuana is not our only issue: The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) estimates that 70% of Americans who use illegal drugs are employed. That’s a scary statistic for HR departments.
Join us for a timely and informative session that will review the current marijuana laws across the U.S., discuss the legal and practical implications of marijuana-related policies and testing programs, and explore the challenges of opioids that show up in the workplace.
This session will provide lots of information but is intended to be thought-provoking and interactive, as we brainstorm together from a practical HR perspective on how to navigate this challenging and evolving landscape. Topics covered will include:
- Current state laws on marijuana in the workplace.
- The conflict between federal and state marijuana laws.
- States that have tried to affirm supremacy of state over federal law in this area.
- How to write and enforce drug-free workplace programs.
- The challenges of developing an effective drug-testing program.
- The potential ADA and other disability law implications related to marijuana policies and practices.
- A discussion of several of the more interesting court cases on this topic.
- Suggestions for HR professionals on how best to advise executive management.
Lauraine Bifulco
Two themes are woven throughout Lauraine Bifulco's diverse career: a passion for a job well done and a zest for continual learning and improvement. Lauraine infuses Vantaggio HR with these qualities every day. When she founded the firm in 1994, Lauraine combined her rare talent in understanding what a client needs and her gift of business foresight to create a company that can service the HR and management consulting needs of small and large companies equally well. Today, Vantaggio serves clients across the country from their offices in California, Hawaii, Colorado, and New York.
Her Career experience helps employers realize their HR goals and adapt to the shifting HR landscape. Lauraine is a veteran HR executive and entrepreneur with 25 years of international, corporate, and consulting experience. Her bold career has taken her to employment and business opportunities in Europe and multiple U.S. cities. She serves as co-chair of the California Small Business Administration's committee on Labor Issues which reviews and makes recommendations on pending labor/employment laws, keeping her abreast of legal developments.
Delivering over 30 presentations and webinars each year, Lauraine is a well-respected, and highly sought after guest lecturer and speaker on a variety of business management and HR-related topics for both state and national organizations including Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), American Payroll Association (APA), Next Concept HR Association (NCHRA), Paylocity annual Elevate Conference, and HR Star Conference to name a few. She has been invited to review, develop, and deliver certificate programs for SHRM, and has developed and delivered curriculum for businesses throughout the U.S.
Lauraine received a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and conducted graduate level studies in linguistics at the Sorbonne in Paris.