Workplace Drug Testing Programs

Employee Drug-Testing

Since the late 1980s, the government agencies and the private employers have been taking up drug-free workplace policies. As a result of this, there has been a measurable decrease in the drug use of employees. Presently, many large companies have set the criteria for potential job candidates to undergo a drug screening test before employing them.

Major benefits derived by the employers from pre-employment drug test

Decrease in absenteeism and productivity: Employers tend to take more sick leaves and make more errors during work because of drug abuse. Thus, drug use brings down their productivity level.

Reduction in accidents and thefts: Drug addicted individuals generally have less cognitive abilities. So, especially those employees who work with heavy machinery, or have to travel in motor vehicles, will have higher chances of being in accidents. Employees who are taking drugs on a regular basis, will require fund for their habit, leading to higher chances of theft.

Prevention: If the employers arrange tests for all their employees and make an announcement to the potential employees about this policy, it will reduce the number of applicants with pre-existing drug issues.

Reduced liability costs: Employees who are addicted to drugs, have higher chances of causing a work error. In such cases, employers may have to bear heavy costs in a lawsuit.

Government funding: Another benefit which company can derive by pre-employment drug-testing policy is, to become eligible for government funding, according to the Drug-Free Work Place Act by the federal government when a company maintains a drug-free environment.

The employers’ benefits also trickle down to the employees

Lesser workload: If a team member of your work place continuously makes errors in his work or becomes too irregular on the job, the other team member may have to bear a heavier work load. Drug-free workplaces do not face such problems.

Rehabilitation facilities: Many companies offer drug-abuse rehabilitation programs to their employees. In some cases, employees go by themselves, while in other cases they are sent under employer-sponsored-employee assistance programs.

Drug testing before hiring can also help to avoid many life-threatening situations. According to the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, employees who handle safety sensitive transportation vehicles, such as trains, planes, buses or trucks, are required to pass drug and alcohol tests.

What is tested in pre-employment drug-screens?

It tests for all kinds of illegal drugs like cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, phencyclidine and opiates. They also test for overuse or abuse of prescription drugs. The test even includes tests for alcohols. Usually urine samples are used for these tests, however, blood, hair or saliva are also used in certain cases.

Collection process

Samples are usually collected in a clinic or a drug testing site. Applicants get a very short notice for the test, so that they do not get the time to flush substances from their body or delay the test. Although some of the drugs get eliminated from the body within a few days, certain drugs like marijuana may take weeks for elimination.

Random Drug Testing

Employers may also put random drug testing programs in place in order to keep the workplace drug free. An ideal drug testing program includes random drug testing for employees throughout their tenure with the company. A company can provide us with a list of its employees and we will take random samples for drug tests.

We have incorporated certain features in the testing procedure, that will help to quickly and effectively monitor the employees for drug and alcohol consumption.

• Employers can create pools of employees from which the drug drawing will be made.
• Employers can choose the frequency of tests, like, weekly, monthly, quarterly or “on demand” frequency.
• Employers can easily view the list of employees in the pool and can identify the ones who are flagged for alcohol testing.
• Employers can automatically randomize draws whenever needed.
• Employers can choose the tests you want to apply for a pool of employees and can keep a track of the results.
• Employers can easily import results of one or more employees from a laboratory worksheet.