ADDICTION POLICY SLAMMED

Imperial Oil relied on 'stereotypes'

TORONTO (CP) - In a ground breaking decision that could have far-reaching
consequences for the workplace, an Ontario court has thrown out Imperial
Oil's tough drug-and alcohol-testing policy as discriminatory. The court
unanimously agreed with an earlier ruling that the policy relied on
stereotypes about people with disabilities or perceived disabilities, the
Ontario Human Rights Commission said yesterday. It also affirmed drug and
alcohol dependence and abuse are handicaps under humans rights legislation.

"We recognize the necessity of testing in high-risk situations," commission
head Keith Norton said in a news release. "In those circumstances, being
drug-or alcohol-free is a legitimate job requirement."

The case heard last September involved Martin Entrop, an 18-year senior
employee at Toronto-based Imperial Oil's refinery in Sarnia, Ont. Entrop
was an alcoholic who overcame his abuse problems with the help of a company
addiction counsellor. In 1992 - seven years after his last drink- he was
forced to disclose his past problems. He was demoted from his job
overseeing the refining process and given a technician9s position. He was
reinstated a year later.

Entrop's demotion was the result of Imperial's tough new policy implemented
a year earlier. It required all employees to reveal any drug and alcohol
problems, no matter how old. Failure to do so was punishable by firing. The
company argued the policy was necessary to keep drinkers out of sensitive
jobs, but Entrop complained to the human rights commission that he'd been
treated like a criminal. Entrop said he'd been forced to answer more than
600 questions to compile a report on his sexual history, religious beliefs,
childhood and even how he dressed. .