Alliance Offers New Benefit For Investors
The Alliance for Dade has a new benefit available for investors that will save them 7.5 percent on their Workers’ Compensation Insurance premium.
The primary goal of the Drugs Don’t Work program is to create healthy communities in which to live and work by assisting businesses to develop drug-free workplace programs, to supply free and discounted workplace services, and to educate working parents on how to talk to their children about drugs.
In addition to the 7.5 percent discount on Workers’ Compensation insurance, participating employers receive a discounted rate for onsite drug or alcohol test kits, free legal updates on policy changes, suicide prevention education, free legal advice from the drug-free program attorney, and Drug Free Workplace posters and stickers.
Stacey Prater leads the program for the Alliance. She explained, “Drug free certification is a simple five step process: 1) have a Substance Abuse Policy in place, 2) conduct pre-employment drug testing, 3) conduct employee and supervisor drug education with a monthly newsletter, 4) have a list of treatment and counseling centers in the area available for employees if they test positive, and 5) apply for state certification. Once a company sends that certificate to its Workers’ Compensation insurance provider, the provider is required by law to provide a 7.5 percent premium discount. For some companies, that could amount to thousands of dollars!”
The Alliance assists employers with every step required for certification and for annual renewal. Employers can maximize productivity, enhance competitiveness, and reach desired levels of success without experiencing the costs, delays, and tragedies associated with work-related accidents resulting from employee substance abuse.
Funding for the program is provided by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Addictive Disease, Office of Prevention Services and Programs. DDW benefits in that the Alliance for Dade is the “vehicle” that helps deliver the program to the business community directly.
“This program is in place in 68 chambers of commerce in Georgia and it works. Drug testing at work is a proven deterrent to drug use. And education provided to parents who are employees of drug-free workplaces can be shared with their children to help keep them drug and alcohol free. Part of our mission at the Alliance is to serve as a catalyst for improving the overall quality of life in Dade County – and this program does exactly that,” Alliance Chair George Williams said.
Any Alliance for Dade Investor at the Bronze level ($150) or above is eligible to participate in this benefit at no cost. For more information and to sign up, call the Alliance at (706) 657-4488 or email welcome@alliancefordade.com.
Marcy Williams is the secretary for Alliance for Dade.