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It’s Legal
Drug tests are legal for both private and public employers. Companies must follow federal guidelines and abide by the rules of their regulating agencies to test workers.
Pre-employment testing usually includes a urinalysis, which can screen for multiple drugs. Employees can also undergo for-cause and reasonable suspicion tests if an employer suspects that they are using drugs.
Employee assistance programs can be helpful for those who fail a drug test. These help employees deal with emotional, financial, or substance abuse issues that might affect job performance.
It’s Effective
Employment drug testing can help businesses save money, increase productivity, and prevent accidents and injuries. It also helps them qualify for workers’ compensation premium discounts and reduce legal costs.
Pre-employment testing is often required before new hires start work. It can also be conducted when observable behavior triggers reasonable suspicion or after an accident to determine if drugs were involved.
Critics of drug screening claim it violates employees’ privacy and engenders resentment, especially in safety-sensitive jobs such as train engineers and airline pilots. In addition, tests don’t address the root problems of substance abuse and must be paired with employee assistance programs.
It’s Affordable
Studies show that employees who use drugs cost companies billions each year in lost productivity, health care costs, theft of equipment and supplies, and workers’ compensation claims. Drug screening can reduce these losses and save employers money.
A typical pre-employment drug test is a urinalysis that screens for marijuana, cocaine, PCP, opiates, and amphetamines. Many companies expand this test for additional, unannounced tests conducted on employees under reasonable suspicion.
Companies that value risk mitigation should consider implementing an employment drug testing policy.
It’s Effective in Preventing Injuries
In some jobs, workers are exposed to dangerous situations that can lead to injuries. Employee drug testing effectively prevents these incidents, reducing the number of accidents during work hours.
Drug testing also helps reduce healthcare costs and lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums. In addition, it can help employers comply with government and industry regulations. Random tests are a strong deterrent for drug users, and they can be performed on an ongoing basis. The tests can screen for a variety of drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, as well as many prescription medications.
It’s Effective in Preventing Crime
Drug testing effectively reduces employee theft, accidents, downtime, and absenteeism. It can also improve morale and help employers save on workers’ compensation costs.
Drug tests can be conducted pre-employment, after an incident, or whenever observable behaviors prompt reasonable suspicion. They can check for a variety of substances, including marijuana, cocaine, morphine, amphetamines, and PCP.
For-cause drug testing is conducted when direct observations of apparent impairment or misuse are made or when an employee has violated company policy. These tests may include urinalysis and blood draws.
It’s Effective in Preventing Abuse
Employers recognize that their business depends on employees being alert, focused, and productive. They also know that drug abuse negatively impacts morale, theft, and employee health.
Employment drug testing is an effective deterrent for preventing substance abuse in the workplace. It helps employers save money by reducing absenteeism, accidents, injuries, theft, and workers’ compensation claims.
Testing is especially important in safety-sensitive jobs such as train engineers, airline pilots, and truck drivers. However, the best way to prevent accidents is to help employees deal with problems that cause them to abuse drugs or alcohol.
It’s Effective in Preventing Accidents
Drug-using employees are a serious risk to other workers and customers. They are more likely to cause accidents and make mistakes that can lead to injuries, death, and loss of productivity.
Workplace drug testing can reduce these risks and improve productivity. It can also save companies money by lowering workers’ compensation costs, insurance premiums, and legal liability. Companies may choose to conduct pre-employment screening, periodic testing, or post-accident tests. These policies are sometimes regulated by state and federal laws or union contracts for safety-sensitive industries.
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It’s Effective in Preventing Deaths
Employment drug testing is an important part of a company’s safety policy.
Companies in safety-sensitive industries like transportation, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, and private security rely on reasonable suspicion drug tests to identify employees who may be using drugs or alcohol. These tests are usually unannounced and conducted regularly.
This screening method can help save a company money in the long run. Employees who get into accidents cost the company workers’ compensation, legal fees, and repair costs for equipment or property.
It’s Effective in Preventing Fraud
Drug testers can detect certain kinds of adulteration or dilution. The problem is that savvy employees can use strategies (like oxidizing agents such as Klear or Whizzies) to beat the test.
Many employers, especially those that work in safety or security-sensitive industries like nuclear power plants, oil and gas, or the Coast Guard, require their workers to pass drug tests. It helps prevent accidents that could cost the company a lot in legal fees, lost productivity, or damage to company property/equipment. A drug-testing program also helps prevent theft.
It’s Effective in Preventing Disruption
Drug testing is a great option for companies that need employees to be alert and sober in safety-sensitive jobs, such as airplane pilots or train engineers. But, the program must be carefully crafted to protect employees’ privacy and rights. Using a random selection process for drug tests can be an effective way to deter drug use in the workplace. However, employers should also consider other factors, including the likelihood of a medical condition showing up on a drug test, which could cause workers to disclose private medical information for fear of losing their jobs.
