Abstract
One response to the problem of substance abuse is simply dismissing those employees who misuse or abuse drugs or alcohol. If the dismissal is challenged before an arbitrator, what particular grievant factors affect the outcome? Analyzing a recent data set, this research note suggests that arbitrators are influenced by grievant-specific factors, but most significantly by the nature of the substance in question. It is argued that this result may be discriminatory in that misuse of drugs or alcohol pose more or less similar health and safety risks to the employer, the public, and other employees. This result may reflect general societal values, mirrored by arbitrators, of which grievants, their representatives, and their employers ought to be aware.
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Thornicroft, K.W. Mitigating factors in substance abuse discharge grievance arbitrations. Employ Respons Rights J 5, 49–58 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01407807
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01407807