Workplace concerns: frequently asked questions answered.

• Author: Brown, Andy
• Position: HR MATTERS - Voluntary Drug Testing Act, employee termination and work culture

I get asked many questions as part of my job--I encourage it. Some questions arise out of the blue and some as part of training seminars. Some questions are asked more frequently than others, in one way or another, and I thought it would be nice to include some in a single place, so, here goes.

My boss interrupts me at work consistently after creating pressure on me to get a task completed. How can I tell him his interruptions are slowing me down?

The demanding/interrupting boss probably goes back as far as Jacob and Rachael and the solution is never easy. This essentially comes down to priorities. Is a friendly relationship with your boss more important than a professional relationship? You can have both, but it takes time and your priority should determine your approach to interruptions. I teach a time-management seminar where we use the mantra "ruthless with time, diplomatic with people" for a priority of productivity. If your boss truly wants the work done, he will understand if you tell him that you hate to cut him off, but you have to get his project done. If you train your boss to understand that getting your project done is important and you are ruthless with your time, you can then be diplomatic with people.

My employer is starting a drug testing policy, is that legal?

I have heard all the arguments on both sides from "it doesn't matter what I do on my own time as long as it doesn't affect my work" to "as a private employer, I should have the freedom not to hire illegal-drug users." This is a hotly contested issue and there are a number of parties actively involved in various stages of litigation over employee drug screening and testing. The ACLU calls random employee drug testing invasive, flawed and just plain unfair. However, in Alaska, the short answer is yes, it is legal for employers to test employees. Federal law does not require drug testing except in certain industries, and some state and local governments have set limits, restrictions or even outright bans on employee testing.

In Alaska, there is no mandatory testing law, but rather a Voluntary Drug Testing Act that protects employers who do have a drug and alcohol policy and testing program. In order to receive legal protection, employers must implement a comprehensive policy and must adhere to specific collection, testing and confidentiality procedures.

The key is ala effective drug and alcohol policy. A good policy includes what constitutes a violation, which employees...