If you are a prospective employee, you need to know how to find out if a company drug tests to thoroughly prepare for it.
Legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes in some places has had many people think about how drug testing could affect their careers. On the other side, employers are also keen not to take in employees who misuse illicit substances.
For this reason, drug testing is common in many companies to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.
It is therefore important for job seekers or employees to know if their potential or current employer drug tests. Lucky for you, this write-up has all the information you need to navigate this potentially sensitive topic.
How To Find Out If A Company Do Drug Tests
1. The company itself announces
As a standard practice, companies often inform job applicants that drug testing is part of their hiring process, usually indicated in job postings or initial application forms.
This allows you to adequately prepare yourself and decide whether you still want to go with the interview or not.
2. If the employee is in a federal contract
All military and federal government personnel & contractors must undergo strict drug screenings for illicit.
Therefore if your potential employer is a contractee of the federal government, you can be sure that you will have a drug test before you are hired.
Even if the illicit substances are legal in your state, they’re still prohibited on a federal level, and if your results come positive, that would be it.
The state and local government employees and contractors are also expected to maintain a drug-free environment or risk losing valuable federal funding.
3. Contact the HR department
Try being proactive! If the information is not on the job posting, a good place to start is by reaching out to the HR department for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
They should be able to provide you with information on the company’s drug testing procedures, including when and how employees are screened.
4. Search online
Conducting a quick online search can also let you know if a company conducts drug tests. Try searching the company’s policies or website and looking for information on employee reviews or forums.
Remember that the information found online may not always be up-to-date or accurate, so it’s a good idea to verify any information with HR or a reliable source.
Pre-Employment Drug Test And How It Can Impact Your Career
A pre-employment drug test is a drug screening process conducted by an employer to assess if a potential employee has any illicit substance.
The tests can detect the presence of drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine, in a person’s system.
These tests are usually conducted before a job offer is made and are used to help employers determine if a candidate is suitable for the position and maintain a safe and drug-free workplace.
With that in mind, it’s important to understand that pre-employment drug tests can be a determining factor in the hiring process and can significantly impact an individual’s career.
If a potential employer finds that you have tested positive for drugs, it can significantly decrease your chances of being hired.
This can limit your job opportunities and potentially hinder your ability to secure future employment.
In some industries, such as transportation and safety-sensitive positions or jobs that involve machine operation, a positive drug test result can lead to disqualification from the job altogether.
Moreover, pre-employment drug tests can also impact your reputation and personal life.
Imagine moving from state to state or city to city, looking for a job, and not being able to find one only because your drug tests are coming positive all the time. It won’t look good on you.
If you’re concerned about a positive result, you may want to consider seeking treatment or support to address the issue.
Why Do Companies Carry Out Drug Tests?
In today’s modern world, where workplace safety is a major concern, you can’t escape drug tests. Many companies conduct drug tests on their prospective employees for different reasons, but the following are common.
1. To Maintain a Safe Workplace
One of the primary reasons companies conduct drug tests is to ensure a safe and secure work environment.
Employees under the influence of drugs can pose a threat to themselves and their colleagues, leading to accidents and injuries. And when such accidents happen, guess who stands to lose?
Yes, you got it right; it is the employer. In some cases, they could be sued and have to compensate the affected party.
Drug testing helps to identify individuals who may be a risk to the safety of others and enables the company to take necessary measures to address the issue.
2. Compliance with Regulations
As quoted in the constitution under Executive order 12564, ‘law enforcement, national security, the protection of life and property, public health or safety, or other functions requiring a high degree of public trust‘ are required by the law to undergo drug testing.
Therefore relevant companies must comply with these regulations to avoid legal consequences and maintain their operating license.
3. To Ensure Job Performance
Drugs can impair an individual’s ability to perform their job effectively in terms of punctuality and lack of concentration leading to decreased productivity and quality of work.
Implementing thorough drug testing can ensure employees have clear minds, better physical coordination, and emotional stability, which are the recipe for any productive outcome in any workplace setting.
4. Address workplace violence and illegal activates
Drug consumption can often escalate into additional criminal behavior, such as selling illegal drugs to other employees.
Substance abuse is a contributing factor to the increased workplace violence and harassment. With drug testing initiatives in place, employers are sending a message that they don’t tolerate the effects of drug abuse.
This also demonstrates to your employees the importance of creating a secure work environment for them.
5. Protect Company Reputation
Companies have a responsibility to maintain a positive public image and reputation. A workplace known for drug abuse can harm the company’s reputation and discourage potential competitive employees from applying for positions.
Drug testing helps companies maintain a positive image and attract high-quality employees.
When Can Your Employer Do A Drug Test?
Here are the key moments in an employee’s journey when drug testing is often required. Every company assesses its unique needs to determine the right timing for a drug testing program that will benefit the most.
- Pre-employment drug tests – These are usually conducted after extending a job offer, contingent upon the results being negative.
They are also conducted during the hiring process before selecting the right candidate for any given position.
- Periodic drug tests – Some industries, such as transportation and manufacturing, often carry out periodic drug testing programs.
These tests are scheduled at specific times throughout the year and often coincide with employees’ work anniversaries.
- Post-accident drug tests – In some cases, employers may conduct post-accident drug tests after a workplace accident occurs. These tests help determine if substance abuse played a role in the incident.
- Random drug tests – Periodic random drug test is an effective way to deter current employees from abusing an illicit substance.
A random sample of employees is subjected to drug testing, and there is no way of knowing who will be chosen. The uncertainty of the situation makes it hard for employees to abuse drugs.
- Return-to-duty drug tests – If an employee is returning to work after violating drug and alcohol policy or testing positive for illicit drugs, he/she will be subjected to the aforementioned drug tests
- Follow-up drug tests – These tests are performed on employees who have previously tested positive for drugs. And are usually performed after a return-to-duty drug test to confirm that the employee is no longer using drugs.
- Reasonable suspicion drug tests – If your employee has enough reasons and evidence to suspect that you are abusing drugs, they may subject you to a drug test.
Direct observations of drug use or impairment, the discovery of illicit substances in the workplace, or abnormal behavior can lead to a reasonable suspicion drug test.
Conclusion
It’s crucial to know how to find out if a company drug tests so that you can be aware of the company’s drug testing policy and prepare accordingly.
Employers who conduct drug tests are taking a proactive approach to ensure the well-being of their employees and the success of their businesses.
Understanding the consequences of a positive result and seeking support if necessary can help you take control of your career and secure a bright future.
