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Missouri Employer Meets Burden of Proof in Arbitration Involving Termination of Employment

An arbitrator determined that Virbac Corporation, a Missouri-based manufacturer of animal pharmaceuticals, had just cause to terminate an employee who tested positive for marijuana as part of a return-to-duty physical.

A union maintenance electrician who was also a member of the company's safety committee filed a grievance against Virbac Corporation after being terminated for testing positive for marijuana. The employee had been required to submit to a drug test as part of a return-to-duty physical. Testing positive for marijuana, the employee admitted to using the drug to alleviate pain during his medical leave; however, the employee was not a licensed medical marijuana user under Missouri law.

A Medical Review Officer attempted to reach the employee before certifying the results, as warranted in the confirmatory testing process, but the employee did not respond to contact attempts. As such, the MRO reported the test result as positive. The employee was suspended and afforded an opportunity to provide documentation supporting the test result. Upon failing to provide supporting documentation, the employee was terminated.

During the initial grievance meetings, the employee claimed his positive test result was based on the lawful CBD oil use. Later during the arbitration, the employee confessed to having smoked marijuana before and after he was tested and had returned to work.

Ultimately, the arbitrator determined that the employer met its burden of demonstrating just cause for the termination based on a few factors, including that the Department of Human Health and Services' testing thresholds are "effective, lawful and enforceable" and do not require "impairment."

Employers are encouraged to continually evaluate internal policies along with jurisdictional laws and regulations pertaining to the use of marijuana as it relates to drug testing and subsequent decisions on employment status.

Posted: March 9, 2021


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This document and/or presentation is provided as a service to our customers. Its contents are designed solely for informational purposes, and should not be inferred or understood as legal advice or binding case law, nor shared with any third parties. Persons in need of legal assistance should seek the advice of competent legal counsel. Although care has been taken in preparation of these materials, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information contained within it. Anyone using this information does so at his or her own risk.

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