Organizational Characteristics Related to the Adoption of Employee Assistance and Drug Testing Programs in Canada

Abstract

This study examines characteristics of work sites related to the establishment of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and drug testing programs. A sample of 633 human resources managers at work sites with 100 or more employees across Canada completed a questionnaire on their work site characteristics and the types of programs available (response rate = 77.8%). Work sites with EAPs had significantly (p < .01) fewer visible minorities, were more likely to be unionized (p < .0001), and had less hierarchical management styles (p < .00001) than work sites without EAPs. For drug testing programs, significant differences were found across provinces (p < .00001) for work sites that delivered goods to the United States (p < .01), and for those in the safety-sensitive work sectors (p < .00001). Results suggest that the presence of an EAP is an indication of an employee benefit and is more likely to exist in work sites with nonhierarchical management styles, and that drug testing programs are linked to geopolitical issues and safety concerns.