Meet The Expert
NINA M. FRENCH
President of Employer + Law Enforcement Solutions
Nina M. French is Hound Labs, Inc.’s President of Employer + Law Enforcement Solutions. She has more than 30 years of experience in the employee screening industry and a deep understanding of drug testing program design, technologies, policies, state laws, and federal regulations. In addition to holding a leadership role at a major drug testing services provider, Nina co-founded a consulting firm providing drug testing and screening guidance to hundreds of clients. Nina frequently speaks at conferences and regularly contributes to the Hound Labs blog as well as other industry publications.
Nina’s blogs not only cover industry trends, but also specifics related to employer policies and operational procedures that may need to be modified in the era of cannabis legalization. She writes about the importance of cannabis testing and the need to test for recent cannabis use; how breath testing can be added to an existing suite of conventional drug tests; how to create a comprehensive drug testing program that is both effective and fair; and a wide variety of other topics.
Detection vs. Impairment: Why Objective Testing Matters
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Implementing policies around impairment may cause employers to lose sight of the primary goal of workplace drug testing – detecting and deterring workday use.
Accentuate the Negative, Deter the Positive
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Conventional cannabis testing methods and outdated policies in the era of cannabis legalization are contributing to an upside-down effect of non-negative results.
Much Ado About Detection
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Originally designed to detect and deter workplace drug use, the evolution of testing programs has resulted in a limited scope which decreases its efficacy.
Overhauling Workplace Cannabis Testing Policies
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Overhauling workplace cannabis testing policies is imperative if companies want to future-proof their operations, maintain safety, and retain employees.
The Unexpected Costs of Drug Use in the Workplace
By NINA M. FRENCH |
How do a bathroom scale and a fitness app relate to a successful and sustainable drug testing program? By preventing unexpected surprises.
What Determines if a Position is Safety-Sensitive?
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Modernizing the definition of safety-sensitive is critical for employers when maximizing the benefits of their drug testing program.
Specimen Custody and Control – A Critical Component in Workplace Testing
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Custody and Control of a specimen are critical to supporting the defensibility of a workplace drug test; however, many people just consider it pesky paperwork.
EAPs Have Never Been More Important
By NINA M. FRENCH |
2022 New Year’s Resolution for Employers: Invest more in your EAP or create one as part of a comprehensive drug testing policy if you do not currently offer one.
How and When to Use Post-Hire Testing
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Post-hire testing detects and deters on-the-job cannabis use while keeping personal choices private.
Social Equity and Cannabis Testing (Part 2)
By NINA M. FRENCH |
Cannabis breath testing will help to usher in a new era of social equity in workplace drug testing with permanent changes that prioritize both safety and fair treatment of all employees.
Breath Testing: Fairer Outcomes for Everyone
By NINA M. FRENCH |
I have attended several conferences over the last couple of months and have noticed a new and recurring theme – social equity. I am excited that leaders in the drug testing and safety industries recognize the importance of these conversations and the need to examine and improve current practices.
Could Testing Breath for Cannabis Help Avoid a Catastrophic Safety Accident?
By NINA M. FRENCH |
In the last 5 years, there has been a 60% increase in the number of employees getting high at work – according to an EHS Today article, High Reliability Organizations anticipate and respond to avoid catastrophic safety risk.