The results of alcohol and drug tests can be taken into account by the civil court in the assessment of a dismissal. Since the introduction of the GDPR, a legal ground is needed to test employees for alcohol, drugs and medicine use. A legal ground only exists for a limited number of professions. If you test without a legal basis, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) can take action against you, as an employer.
No, in principle that is not allowed. Since the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), employers are not allowed to just process employees’ health data. This is only allowed if it is required by law. The judge can take the result of alcohol and drug tests into account when assessing a dismissal case but he does not have to.
It is of paramount importance for companies that safety in the workplace is guaranteed. The use of alcohol, drugs and medication can jeopardize this. That is why it is usually forbidden to be under the influence of alcohol etc. during working hours. A breach of this prohibition can give cause for dismissal, whether or not, whether or not with immediate effect.
Testing for alcohol or drugs without a legal basis is a breach of the GDPR. Anyone who conducts a test without legal reason may be fined by the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens). A legal exception applies in particular to persons exercising a high-risk profession. Think, for instance, of pilots or train drivers. There is no legal exception for the operation of machines.
You can try to find our whether someone is working under the influence by using other methods, such as checking their breath, responsiveness and balance. If that shows that the employee is probably under the influence, you can deny him access to the job. If it turns out to be a structural problem, you can seek the assistance of the company doctor.
You can also include rules of conduct and protocols in the staff manual, personnel regulations and HR policy. It must include that being under the influence of alcohol or other substances during working hours is prohibited. The employees must sign this for information. The rules of conduct and protocols must then be maintained consistently.
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