Observing the ever increasing incidents of drug abusing and the deteriorations of the quality of the work output drug testing has been made mandatory at many corporations so that they can control or prevent any harmful effect that may occur to the employees and also to the other employees with strong hand thus keeping the environment safe and healthy.
Various types of drug test are followed according to the various levels and circumstances. To mention the various levels and circumstances of corporate drug testing they are pre-employment drug testing, post accident drug testing, random drug testing, return to duty/ follow-up testing, request to retest and reasonable suspicion test. All of which aims at keeping the corporate environment healthy.
1. Pre-Employment Drug Test- It is the most common type of drug test followed by almost all the corporations and it is followed at the time of recruitment to detect the whether the candidate consumes drugs like marijuana, cocaine, PCP, opiates and amphetamines.
2. Post Accident Drug Test- Post drug testing is conducted on any employee who meets with an accident during the job timings. If the employee is found to take drug then the company is not duty-bound to pay for the employee or it is neither compelled to any sort of cases which may affect the company’s concern. It is wrong to interpret post accident drug test to fire the employee but it aims at protecting the company from the legal responsibility in the event that the individual is the victim of drug that caused the accident.
3. Random drug test- This type of drug test act as a deterrent on the employees as they will think several times before taking drugs as these tests are conducted without any prior notice.
4. Return to duty/ Follow-up test- This test gives a second chance to any employee who could not pass the drug test. The employee is allowed to once again undergo the drug test within forty-five days from the last test. The person should get a clearance from the EAP to rejoin the job. It does not end here; the person will have to undergo unannounced and periodical drug testing for six times even in the following year.
5. Request to retest-‘Retest’ as the name suggest is to sit or undergo for the test if there is any doubt with the result of the already done test. If an employee who has undergone the drug test has any kind of doubt with the result then he/she has the right to apply for retest to confirm the result and it can be done only after seventy-two hours after the previous test is been done.
6. Reasonable Suspicion Test- If any of the employee’s behavior is found to be suspicious then the employers has the right to conduct both the drug test and alcohol test. And if the employee is identified for the reasonable suspects then he is liable to get suspended but when the results for the drug test are negative then he/she will be again taken in the job and will also be paid for the length of period he has been prevented to work.
All the above mentioned drug test solely aims at improving the working environment but it is also true that person identified to be using drug get a stain in their career. Again it is also true that drug test act as a prevention on the employees as they will think several times before taking drugs so that they are not fired as no wants to lose their job.
Posts Tagged ‘Drug Screening’
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Conducting Drug Tests On Employees – A Basic Guidline For Testing Employees
This is a mini handbook on how to perform drug tests on employees. The information presented in this handbook will be of great help to companies who wish to organize drug-screening programs for its workforce and, in some cases, also for its prospective employees.
Drug abuse among employees can cost companies a lot in terms of time and money because drug abusers can absent themselves often and engage in illegal activities such as theft.
Several companies now demand that their employees submit to a drug test because this has been found to be a cost-effective method of managing employees. By spending only 50-70 dollars on a single drug test, companies might avoid having to spend several hundreds of dollars on time lost, accidents, health care, and compensation.
First, you will first learn about the method of performing a drug test. There are two ways to do a drug test or a drug examination.
Laboratory Test
Employees can be requested to go to a certified laboratory to get their urine tested. The results will be available within a day. If the results of the urine test is positive, the urine is further analysed to find out the particular types of drugs that were used.
Drug Test Kits
Companies can purchase one of the instant drug test kits that are available in stores and perform a drug test in the office itself. Instant drug test kits are inexpensive, but they are just as reliable as laboratory tests. In case a test turns out to be positive, the employees should be asked to go to the laboratory to get a detailed analysis of their urine.
Types of Drugs
Now that you know how to conduct a drug test on a prospective employee, it is time to know the different types of drugs you are have to test for. Usually, employers test their employees for usage of five commonly available drugs such as amphetamines and methamphetamine, PCP, marijuana or THC, opiates such as codeine and morphine, and cocaine.
Drug Retention
The time taken by a person to retain a particular drug within his or her system varies from individual to individual. Generally, drugs stay in a person’s system from two to four days. Some drugs such as marijuana and PCP can remain in the system for around 14 days. Sedatives such as valium can remain in the system for about a month.
You could also try an expensive drug testing method, such as hair testing, to detect drugs that can remain in the system for around three months. Some companies also perform ten-panel drug testing, which could include testing for legal prescription drugs such a valium. Companies can also test a prospective employee for alcohol.
Employee Methods to Escape Drug Testing
Employees who are into drugs try several methods to escape a drug test. They could even attempt to manipulate their urine samples.
Companies can prevent such cases by requiring employees to provide urine samples within a certain time period. This will deter employees who are attempting methods to make the drugs leave their systems. Some of the drug tests might appear negative, but, at the same time, reveal suspicious abnormalities that, on a further test, would uncover traces of drug abuse.
Drug abuse among employees can also lead to a decrease in productivity and an increase in violence. Conducting drug tests of employees every now and then is the only, and the best way, to avoid such problems at the workplace.
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