If you’re like most working Americans, you’ve probably had to take a drug test at some point in your career. In the United States, the federal government requires some employers to drug test new employees as a condition of employment. The Department of Transportation, for example, requires drug testing for certain transportation jobs, such as truck drivers and airline pilots. The Department of Defense also requires drug testing for employees of defense contractors. And many states have their own laws requiring or authorizing drug testing for employees.
What happens if you don’t drug test new employees?
There are a few potential consequences that could occur if you don’t implement a pre employment drug test new employees. One possibility is that the employee could end up being injured on the job. This could potentially lead to expensive workers’ compensation claims. Additionally, if the employee is responsible for a serious accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the company could be held liable.
If you don’t drug test new employees, it could be difficult to hold them accountable if they’re caught using drugs or alcohol on the job. This could lead to decreased productivity and an unsafe work environment.
What are the disadvantages of drug testing employees?
There are several potential disadvantages to drug testing employees. The most prominent concerns you might have are unnecessary costs and a negative impact on employee morale. Some employees may see your knowledge of any drug use during off hours as an invasion of privacy. Others might worry that these results can be used in an improper manner, such as to discriminate against employees or to deny them employment opportunities.
What challenges can arise when drug testing new hires?
Some people worry that, when taking a random drug test, a false positive could cost them a job. A false positive is when a drug test comes back positive for a drug that you haven’t actually taken. This can happen for a number of reasons, including taking over the counter or prescription medications that can cause a false positive, consuming foods or drinks that contain traces of drugs, or environmental exposure to drugs.
While it’s certainly possible for a drug test to come back positive for a drug that you haven’t taken, it’s important to note that false positives are relatively rare. This means that the vast majority of drug tests are accurate and that you should only be concerned about a false positive result if you have a legitimate reason to be. However, if a potential employee is surprised by a positive result on their drug screen, it’s important to rule out false positive results before rescinding your job offer.
Another challenge you might encounter is employees using recreational or medical marijuana. While an increasing number of states have legalized the drug, marijuana is still illegal on a federal level. This means that a job candidate may have a medical marijuana card or other legal substances and fail an employers drug test due to the federal law.
Even though more and more states are legalizing marijuana, the drug is still illegal under federal law. This means that employers in states that have legalized marijuana can still test their employees for marijuana and fire them for testing positive, even if they’re using marijuana legally.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to drug test new employees should be based on a careful consideration of the risks and benefits associated with drug use in the workplace. If you decide that drug testing is the right course of action for your business, be sure to choose a reliable and effective drug testing method that will meet your needs.
