ATTORNEY: DRUG USERS MORE LIKELY TO FILE CLAIMS

MOUNTAIN CITY -- Business and community leaders were briefed on the
10 most common mistakes employers make at a Johnson County Chamber of
Commerce breakfast Thursday.

The discussion was led by Steve Trent and Brent Young, attorneys
specializing in labor and employment with the law firm of Baker,
Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz in Johnson City.

Among topics discussed were the Family and Medical Leave Act,
drug-free workplace programs, which drew the most attention from
attendees, the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act, harassment,
termination timing and procedures, the Fair Labor Standards Act,
workers' compensation, solicitation and distribution policies and
avoidance of retaliation claims. At least six million Americans abuse
illegal drugs, according to Trent. Recreational drug users are five
times more likely to file a workers' compensation claim and 3.7 times
more likely to be involved in workplace accidents than other workers.

"Substance abusers are 2.5 times more likely to be absent in excess
of eight days per year," Trent told attendees.

The Family Medical Leave Act requires all employers with 50 or more
employees to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for eligible
employees. "Most employers are unaware that an employee who is
eligible for worker's compensation leave may also be eligible for
FMLA leave and that these two types of leave can and should run
concurrently," Trent said. Frank Arnold, 2005-06 president of the
Chamber of Commerce, said the briefing/training session was a success.

"We are definitely going to it again. It was a benefit to chamber
members and non-members as well," he said.

In 2006, Arnold said the Chamber and Johnson County officials would
focus on recruiting high tech jobs, such as call centers, to offset
the loss of manufacturing jobs previously provided by Levi's and the
glove plant.