NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, an astonishing 74.6% of the nation's 16.6 million current illicit drug users are employed either full or part time. Today, Sterling Testing Systems, Inc., the nation's fastest-growing pre-employment screening services company, announced its 2006 Winter Symposium: Addressing Substance Abuse in the Workplace. Mark A. de Bernardo, expert labor and employment attorney from the preeminent labor and employment law firm Jackson Lewis LLP, will lead the seminar showing employers how to write a compelling and enforceable policy to mitigate risk and ensure that they hire right to create a safe, drug-free work environment. Attendees will receive 1.75 credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information on the event, visit: www.sterlingtesting.com.
The complimentary breakfast seminar will be held on March 2, 2006 at Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City. Mr. de Bernardo will address the 12 most common mistakes that human resource professionals make when addressing workplace substance abuse. Mr. de Bernardo will present critical guidelines to help companies:
-- Confront the true nature of drug use in the workplace
-- Eliminate subjective language from HR policies
-- Protect an organization against potential litigation
-- Prevent loopholes that exclude law-breaking behaviors
-- Create easily enforceable policies and an improved workplace
for all employees
Symposium leader, Mark A. de Bernardo is a partner at Jackson Lewis, LLP and an expert on workplace drug testing issues and employment litigation and counseling. Mr. de Bernardo has represented more than thirty Fortune 200 corporations during his career. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace, President of the Foundation for Drug Education and Awareness and has authored four state drug-testing laws. He is a regular source to journalists at Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Crossfire and Larry King Live.
"Drug testing is an integral part of ensuring safety in the workplace -- its benefits are well documented," said Richard Seldon, President of Sterling Testing Systems. "We sincerely believe that employers need to get the facts about drug abuse and how these programs can benefit their companies."
To register for this event, contact Jessica Eyth at Sterling Testing Systems at (212) 812-1021 or send an email to RSVP@sterlingtesting.com.
Sterling Testing Systems
Sterling Testing Systems are business information providers and the foremost experts in pre-employment screening, harnessing thirty years of expertise to help companies hire right the first time and avoid costly mistakes. Sterling maintains a 99% client retention rate among its 6000 clients from the Fortune 500 to small to mid-sized enterprises in a wide range of industries including healthcare, financial services, retail and publishing. Sterling's proprietary technology rapidly links HR professionals to the background check data they need, and its Sterling Direct testing module seamlessly integrates into more than 15 unique HR software programs. For more information, visit www.sterlingtesting.com