Drug testing

Former Member

How many, and what sort, of companies/employment test employees?

Obviously the armed forces...but across the board, how common is this? And is it generally focussed on certain types of employment?

Former Member

from what i'm hearing it's becoming more common, grads i know who used to toke last year have had to cut it straight out.........not sure what types of industry in particular, i'd say if you have a nice job with a blue chip company it's pretty standard..........from what i hear.

Former Member

Its not drastically common, some places say they will do 'random' drug testing which then never really happens.

Other places are far more strict.

I'm not sure it will ever get huge though, most companies dont want to bother with the expence, its a pricey business doing testing, especially accurate ones.

Former Member

well BA would...would YOU want your pilot to be high? (not as in altitude :yeees: )

i think if you take a look at the company, the business its involved in will probably give you the answer...anything like airlines or something where your reactionas an capability are keeping people alive will certainly be a candidate.

Former Member

I work in a casino and there were rumours that drug testing would be done in our club, as tests were carried out in clubs in London. This so far hasn't happened.
Thank fuck.

Former Member

Casinos could well be one actually, as this would make sense in the context of Croupiers being on the ball when at work...

Former Member

you wont believe this: at a supermarket down the road from me (in the states) cashiers (even 45 yr old ones) and any one else wanting to work there needs to pass a drug test before they can be hired.
as if working in a supermarket is that hardest job that needs utmost concentration?!?!?! it baffles me...

Former Member

Its grossly unconsitutional to drug test in the US too, you have the protected right not to self incriminate, what the hell is a piss test if it isnt that?!

Former Member

Definately Rachie, random drug testing for people like pilots really is only a deterant, to make more sure they arent using, but its not the be all and end all.

A good human resources relationship could do away with all random drug testing anyway.

Former Member

absolutely...

random drug testing is also one of the great ways for a round of no-questions-asked office layoffs, although this is quite a cynical view is can and has happened, particularly in the US

Former Member

rachie004 wrote:

Thing is, drug testing doesn't tell me/them/whoever if I'm under the influence of say.. weed right at the moment in time, it says I have at some point in between now and whenever

yea its so stupid. what people do in their own time should be no ones business but their own. If their going to be stupid and on drugs at work then theyre probbaly going to be fired anyway. If they're still a great worker even fucked out of their mind then who the fuck cares?!?!?
i dont think it matters if a person does drugs on not on the job (unless its a job that has a responsablilty of other people's lives involed)... unless their a shitty worker as a result of it.