| Any DOT training that is provided by your | | | | want supervisors finishing a web course and |
| company online should assist you in the goal of | | | | saying to themselves, "WOW! I never thought |
| reaching every supervisor with drug and alcohol | | | | about that!" Get that reaction, and you have |
| training and reaching 100% of your supervisory | | | | motivated supervisors who will take the next |
| personnel. Indeed, a web course may be the | | | | step and behave differently to protect your |
| only way to get it because supervisors can train | | | | company. Other myths that a web course should |
| 24/7 from anywhere and you can e-mail a start | | | | address include understanding drug tolerance, |
| link to one or every supervisor that launches upon | | | | definition of denial, enabling behavior, how addicts |
| receipt and with one click. This capability is | | | | think and survive their disease to continue |
| essential to accomplish this level of | | | | drinking, cognitive distortions, manipulation, and |
| compliance. You'll never lose a straggler who | | | | classic excuses that emerge when employees |
| missed live training. | | | | are confronted. |
| Web technology saves time, money, energy, | | | | 4. SOUND-BASED. |
| sweat, and avoids frustration. With server-based | | | | Ensure that your web course has sound. Don't let |
| (that means on your web site not located | | | | it be a movie or simple text. The web course |
| somewhere else) web training, the reasonable | | | | should be "click through" format from frame to |
| suspicion training program is put on automatic | | | | frame so images can be viewed along with the |
| pilot, and you can do other things with your time | | | | voice that describes what the supervisor is |
| to be more productive. | | | | viewing. This is because concepts need to be |
| There are many choices for reasonable suspicion | | | | considered and a moving picture show will not |
| training. If one Googles "reasonable suspicion web | | | | allow supervisors to THINK nor deeply consider |
| courses", several suitable options will be listed. | | | | the content. I prefer a male voice because there |
| Regardless, to make training effective, reliable, | | | | are so many male supervisors that cover up. |
| and as fast as possible, consider training with | | | | 5. SCORED TEST QUESTIONS |
| these features: | | | | Ensure that there are enough test questions |
| 1. CONSIDER AVOIDING THIRD PARTY | | | | about alcohol and drug abuse that your DOT |
| LOG-INS | | | | Training of Supervisors and compliance DOT |
| There are courses available to provide drug and | | | | effort has strong retention factor. This is only |
| alcohol training to supervisors that do not require | | | | possible with test questions that supervisors |
| you to log-in, pay "per user fees", and that will | | | | self-score. And there has to be enough of them. I |
| help expand your ability to reach supervisors for | | | | recommend at least 20 minimum. Supervisors |
| DOT training. This also allows you to train | | | | should be able to correct their answers, but in |
| supervisors from your website, avoid subscription | | | | addition, they should receive feedback on every |
| fees (which is helpful for tight budgets). Virtually | | | | question they get wrong so they understand the |
| no third party providers allow you to upload your | | | | deeper meaning and issues that underlie the |
| drug free workplace policies, nor will they allow | | | | question. |
| specific editable changes to the content to meet | | | | 6. TEST QUESTIONS ON HANDOUTS |
| the unique needs of your work culture. | | | | Ensure that there is a test question on each of |
| 2. AMPLE PRINTABLE HANDOUTS | | | | the handouts from the course. This will help |
| Ensure your web course will show and allow | | | | ensure that supervisors read the handouts that |
| supervisors to print PDFs of course handouts. | | | | pop-up in the course. Pretty simple, but |
| Also, choose a program that will allow you to | | | | necessary. |
| insert your own. A signs | | | | 7. EDUCATION ON MANIPULATION AND VERBAL |
| and symptoms checklist should be included | | | | EXCUSE TRAPS |
| because supervisors are handicapped without a | | | | Ensure that the web course for training includes |
| checklist that will allow them to construct | | | | excuses and communication traps that |
| effective documentation. | | | | supervisors will face. They must be given |
| 3. TARGET MYTHOLOGY | | | | awareness for how employees avoid tests. |
| Ensure that the web course for DOT Training of | | | | Many courses or handouts exist on what |
| Supervisors targets common myths regarding | | | | employees will do to thwart a test, but guess |
| alcoholism and drug addiction. These myths | | | | what, their first step is to avoid the test in the |
| are so rampant in society that even a hint of | | | | first place. To do that, they rely upon |
| their being challenged drives some people to fits | | | | extraordinary and seductive verbal debate and |
| of near anxiety. This is especially true of family | | | | rationales to get the supervisor to back off. |
| members of alcoholics who have enabled for | | | | Some employees will even confessing drugs or |
| years and will do so in your workplace with the | | | | alcohol to avoid test. Why? They do this because |
| employees they supervise. | | | | they know there is no way out, and their only |
| For example. Many people use the term | | | | hope at that point is to confess their alcohol or |
| "Functional Alcoholism". This term is a powerful | | | | drug problem, elicit sympathy from the |
| example of enabling and it only means one thing: | | | | supervisor, and convince the supervisor they are |
| "The drinking problem of the alcoholic does not | | | | in treatment or just got started in treatment, so |
| bother me." | | | | in fact, there is no need for a test. Believe it or |
| If the DOT Training in Reasonable Suspicion does | | | | not it works for some employees because the |
| not address these myths, it is too superficial. You | | | | supervisor does not need to be the bad guy. |