Back in 2015, The White House confirmed that the opioid epidemic cost America around $504 billion. Employees with pain medication use disorder cost organizations more than three times the average worker. This has caused a new crisis to emerge in today’s economy. There aren’t enough workers who are able to pass a drug test to fill all of the available openings. Other than the skyrocketing cost of employee healthcare, absenteeism and high turnover rates have also plagued companies throughout America.

Today’s podcast, Greg meets with Kathleen Herath, AVP of Well-Being and Safety at Nationwide Insurance. They are also joined by Robert Hardin-Leeth, Director of Safety to discuss employee wellness and the Nationwide Substance-Free Workplace Program. The program offers two different perspectives; monitoring and education. This includes not only random drug testing, but also counseling and intervention. Listen for more details on how Nationwide maintains a safe work environment, while also getting employees the treatment that they need.