Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

eridani

(51,907 posts)
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 05:24 PM Dec 2015

Why Do Employers Still Routinely Drug-Test Workers?

Given that most other drugs and byproducts clear much faster, this is basically anti-marijuana

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/34297-why-do-employers-still-routinely-drug-test-workers

“Increasing numbers of employers are doing some sort of drug-testing,” says Barry Sample, the aptronymic director of science and technology for the Employer Solutions business unit of Quest Diagnostics. “These days it is rather uniform across many, many employment sectors. Most of the larger corporations, and most—if not all—of the Fortune 500 have some sort of drug-testing.” In all, Sample estimates that some 45 to 50 million workplace drug tests are taken annually in the U.S., making up a massive industry in biomedical HR.

The practice has recently begun to creep in new directions. The drug test has long been a condition of employment for a large proportion of America’s workface; now, more and more, it’s a condition of unemployement benefits, too. In November, lawmakers in West Virginia discussed a bill to drug test anyone applying for a state-controlled welfare programs. Ohio lately held a set of hearings on the same thing. And Wisconsin started screening applicants for jobs training and food stamps. At least a dozen other states already have such laws in place, and at least a dozen have proposed the same in every year since 2009, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

This broad and retro culture of drug testing seems at odds with the growing disengagement from our long and painful War on Drugs. States are legalizing marijuana, and its use is on the rise; politicians now evince broad support for undoing policies that filled our prisons with harmless drug offenders. Yet despite this shift in strategy and realignment of our values, the drug testing of employees—performed at great expense to both the public and private sectors—remains routine.

That might make sense if testing yielded clear benefits to the companies that deploy it or to society at large. But here’s the most distressing fact about drug testing in the workplace: As was the case 30 years ago, testing has no solid base of evidence, no proof that it succeeds. We don’t know if screening workers for recent drug use makes them more productive, lowers their risk of getting into accidents, or otherwise helps maintain the social order. And what positive effects we do understand—there are indeed a few—seem almost accidental. They may not be worth the time and money and intrusion.

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why Do Employers Still Routinely Drug-Test Workers? (Original Post) eridani Dec 2015 OP
It is bullshit for the same reason checking your credit score before being hired is bullshit. randys1 Dec 2015 #1
It's a power play to show us our place, of course Warpy Dec 2015 #2
About 10 years ago I applied safeinOhio Dec 2015 #3
And let's not forget our good friends, the alcohol lobby. bluedigger Dec 2015 #4
Because they're stupid? TreasonousBastard Dec 2015 #5
Marijuana is still illegal in most jurisdictions TeddyR Dec 2015 #6
Right. So what does smoking a joint 17 days ago have to do with customer safety? DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2015 #13
To be fair. Rod Beauvex Dec 2015 #7
Cool story, bro. truebluegreen Dec 2015 #8
What's so objectional to what I just said? Rod Beauvex Dec 2015 #9
Many 20-year daily smokers do have a better grasp of the written word. ALOT better grasp. DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2015 #14
So I like, wasn't actually at this place I was working at? Rod Beauvex Dec 2015 #15
I did read your posts. That's why I replied. DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2015 #16
I didn't change my tune. Rod Beauvex Dec 2015 #17
HR tazkcmo Dec 2015 #11
I suspect... Rod Beauvex Dec 2015 #12
Insurance tazkcmo Dec 2015 #10

randys1

(16,286 posts)
1. It is bullshit for the same reason checking your credit score before being hired is bullshit.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 05:25 PM
Dec 2015

The capitalist system allows and encourages the employer or corp to hold ALL the card, make ALL the decisions and fuck you over every fucking time.

It is insane that we tolerate it.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
2. It's a power play to show us our place, of course
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 05:29 PM
Dec 2015

Of course they're not worth it for the stated reasons. It's one of the stupid things the ruling class uses to sleep better at night. They think employees who toke up on weekends won't work as fast.

safeinOhio

(34,007 posts)
3. About 10 years ago I applied
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 05:37 PM
Dec 2015

for a job at an adult book store and had to pee in a cup. I passed and figured that was why I didn't get the job.

bluedigger

(17,145 posts)
4. And let's not forget our good friends, the alcohol lobby.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 05:41 PM
Dec 2015

There is a lot of profit to gain in discouraging marijuana use. Here in SW Colorado you can't get a job as a convenience store clerk without being tested. Unless you are a young professional, self employed, working in the mj industry directly, or not in the job market at all, legalization is a bad joke when it comes to being employable.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
5. Because they're stupid?
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 05:55 PM
Dec 2015

It's something they've been doing for years and some asshole MBA or house lawyer says if they stop doing it they might be liable for... something. And the bosses are terrified of getting out on the golf course and their "peers" question them for their bad judgment in hiring druggies.

American business at its finest.

 

TeddyR

(2,493 posts)
6. Marijuana is still illegal in most jurisdictions
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 06:29 PM
Dec 2015

And UPS, American Airlines and other similarly situated employers don't want someone who is high putting their customers at risk.

Rod Beauvex

(564 posts)
7. To be fair.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 06:46 PM
Dec 2015

I worked at a place that did not drug test until after ninety days.

Sure enough, you got the biggest bunch of sociopaths, psychopaths, people on edge looking for a fight. Lazy. Incompetent. Pill head. Drunkards. Some of the worst people I've ever met.

I will never work for a place that does not drug test ever again.

Rod Beauvex

(564 posts)
9. What's so objectional to what I just said?
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 07:00 PM
Dec 2015

These people worked like shit and constantly fucked up parts.

The place lost alot of business, and now they only run one shift.

The shitty druggy people ruined things for everyone else.

These were not the kind of people that needed medical marijuana.

 

DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)
14. Many 20-year daily smokers do have a better grasp of the written word. ALOT better grasp.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 09:01 PM
Dec 2015

You don't have the faintest idea of what you're talking about.

Rod Beauvex

(564 posts)
15. So I like, wasn't actually at this place I was working at?
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:10 PM
Dec 2015

Did you even bother to read my posts?

I was there. I saw it happen on a consistent basis.

These weren't really pot smokers anyway. This were more pill heads and meth heads that always inexplicably get hired.

 

DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)
16. I did read your posts. That's why I replied.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 12:23 PM
Dec 2015

It's nice that you've changed your tune about what substances your asshole coworkers were using, but that's a brand new element you've introduced to the conversation. If your erstwhile coworkers were assholes, it wasn't because of weed. There are lots of successful and high functioning dope smokers around you; you're just ignorant of that fact.

Rod Beauvex

(564 posts)
17. I didn't change my tune.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 02:50 PM
Dec 2015

I mentioned drunks and pills head in the first post I made in the thread.

There is a difference between light smokers and dope heads. Dope heads cause problems.

Rod Beauvex

(564 posts)
12. I suspect...
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 07:09 PM
Dec 2015

insurance was why they tested at all.

Fail the drug test, get fired, come back in a week. The people up front were nop better than the people on the floor. So glad I don't work there.

tazkcmo

(7,419 posts)
10. Insurance
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 07:05 PM
Dec 2015

By drug testing they satisfy insurance requirements. Also, if you get hurt on the job, they always test for drugs, especially pot, so they don't have to pay for the treatment of the injury and can just fire you.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Cannabis»Why Do Employers Still Ro...