Drug testing for jobs..

[JetBlack]

Quote:
The daily pot smokers I have worked with were terrible employees. You could train them on something today and tomorrow they still couldn't do it. Two years later, they still can't do a job, a normal employee would have mastered in two weeks. They come in late, miss days, leave early and get sick/hurt on the job an awful lot. Their short term memory is that of an ADHD 9 year old. They have more court dates (for which they must miss work) than any other segment of society, except for those going through custody battles. They ask the same questions day after day. No one minds those questions in a new employee. That's normal. For someone who has been at work for years... they should have known by now.

I'll give you this... no one ever smoked weed, then beat up their wife. No one ever smoked weed then shot up the gas station, in a blazing gun battle with police. But they also never really got started doing anything else.

 

[manderzpants]

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hey there, thats like at least 1 toke over the line right there buddy! i don't think she deserves such harsh treatment. i think an apology is in order.....

 

[booker81]

I've drug tested for most every job I've had, without problem. They want my pee, they can have it!

My husband's job requires drug testing a LOT - at hire, at DOT physical, after any incident, and randoms. I can't tell you how often he gets to pee in a cup. The thing is, about 50% (or more probably) of the guys he works with smoke pot regularly. I don't know how he works it, but let's say he can pee a lot. They pass. A few get nabbed every now and then, but all of his friends pass....

This is a job that is running large trucks, heavy machinery, and chainsaws all day, right by powerlines. Do I like the fact that I know he's working with guys who are smoking pot on break, and then holding ropes for him when he's 100' up a tree with a running chainsaw, 10' from the powerlines? Heck no. Does it stop him from donating to their cause? Nope.

Here in MI, medical marijuana is legal, and you can get a "license" for $250. Get the license, smoke your weed, and use it as a pass when you have to pee in a cup. However, if something happens to my husband at work, and the accident is caused by one of the potheads at work, then I won't give a rip about legalities - I'll take care of them myself.

His work has mandates on when they must take a break, how long they can work before they must be off for 8 hours straight, how long they are allowed to work in heat or cold without break, and more safety rules than you can shake a stick at. The work requires people who are on the top of their game, and are NOT impaired. Lack of sleep, too hot, too cold, lack of safety knowledge, and being on pot, coke, alcohol, narcotics etc all impair their ability to work safely. They are tested and check regularly for everything else, they should be tested for drugs.

Now, my job, I don't know why they test for drugs - I sit in a cube and work on a computer. Background and FBI check yes - I'm dealing with confidential information. Drug test, no, but whatever, I'll pee.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
They actually busted that myth on a food science show i watched one time...
No way it could even happen.
I hope the guy got nailed...

That may have been a myth but I am close friends with a Massachusetts Police Chief who is now the instructor for the DAE course (Driver Alcohol Education for drunk drivers), and he's told me that many times a breathalyzer test can fail if the driver has had certain things beforehand, ie mouthwash, mint, or eucalyptus cough drops. Or, can raise what would be a legal percentage to an above legal reading. Now, one can wonder why the person happened to have a mint before driving.....

As far as false drug tests, if you genuinely have a false positive, within a small window of time (I want to say 24 or 48 hours?) you can do a hair strand test. My police chief friend knows of a specific case in Plymouth Mass where a teenage boy was on probation and violated his probation with a random drug test that read positive. His lawyer had a hair strand test done and and all charges were reversed.

As far as Redhen's original post, I think it's pretty straight forward. If you want a position that requires random drug tests, you have to be prepared to take it! If it's SO offensive to you, or if you do drugs, then find another job. Nothing wrong with companies wanting to make sure their employees are straight enough to perform their job! When you VOLUNTEER your services for your employer, then I can understand being offended.

 

[scbatz33]

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maybe the tech was on drugs, that would be ironic....

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

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It is only amusing until you get hurt. Anything that impairs your judgement or your reflexes should be in question if you work in a job that affects the safety of others. When I do the safety talk with my student workers, I include EVERYTHING that could impair them. That includes illegal drugs, prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, alcohol and lack of sleep. I don't really care why you are impaired. I only care that you will do your job properly and not kill me or some other innocent. Your right to do what you want ends when it hurts me or kills me.

We also seem to be forgetting that most of these jobs are with private companies. It is their choice to set the guidelines for hire. You may not like it, but it's not your company. The government has very specific guidelines about what cannot be used as hiring criteria. If they want to check for drugs, for alcohol, for glue eating or playdoh under your fingernails, it is their company and they can do what they want. Your only choice is to apply or not apply.

I agree with Redhen. If you are taking public funds, you need to be clean. It is not my responsibility as a tax payer to take care of you when you are being an idiot. Truthfully, if you are on the dole then I don't think you should be drinking or smoking either. If you can afford to buy liquor and smokes, you can afford to buy a gallon of milk for your kids. Why should I pay for it?

(And just to clear the air of hypocrisy, I don't drink or do drugs either. I figured out pretty early in the game that it made more sense for me to not do either. I certainly have my vices and if my job depended on chocolate testing I'd be screwed. But chocolate doesn't impair my faculties and nobody is at risk when I scarf back a Mars Bar.)

 

[Laurajean]

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I don't drink and don't do drugs, and yes I say quit whining and take the test. I would like to know how you know how the rest of us live? I personally have an issue with being called a hypocrite. This has been a civil conversation with no one being rude or pointing fingers until you.

I never called you a hypocrite or anyone else on here for that matter; I am talking about my own personal experiences with hiring people and working along side them. I don't drink or do any drugs either so chill out. My experiences have been that most of the people who say these things are the same ones who go home and slug down a 12 pack. Lady, get a life.

You quoted WriterofWords directly: "Quit whining and take the test". If your comments weren't meant at her, you should have been more clear before you quote someone and then proceed to complain about hypocrites. And I don't think saying things like "Lady, get a life" is at all appropriate in this forum. Don't contribute if you can't be respectful.

 

[redhen]

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hey there, thats like at least 1 toke over the line right there buddy! i don't think she deserves such harsh treatment. i think an apology is in order.....

I agree, no need to be nasty.

 

[speckledhen]

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hey there, thats like at least 1 toke over the line right there buddy! i don't think she deserves such harsh treatment. i think an apology is in order.....

I agree, no need to be nasty.

I agree as well, so we're done here.

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