Opinion:: Random Drug/Alcohol Testing at work /poll\

[thatkidbob 10+ year member]

if you don't smoke or do drugs you shouldn't have any problem with random drug testing.

people can't oppose things on principle anymore?
this is your logic: if you are not (condition) you shouldn't have a problem with (issue that affects people with said condition).

ie: "if i'm not gay, i shouldn't be concerned with gay rights."

or how about "if you aren't a criminal you shouldn't have a problem with warrantless wire-taps."

because, as we all know, if you don't have anything to hide you shouldn't have a problem with people listening to all your phone conversations and reading your email...

 

[tRidiot 10+ year member]

Drugs is something with real consequences to an employer. They have the right to know if you are a druggie or not. You can make the assertion that what you do on your own time doesn't affect your work, but it's BS. If you do drugs, then you break the law, you exhibit high-risk behavior, and you're subsequently a high-risk employee.

An employer is assuming a certain amount of risk based on simply having you on their grounds and in their employ. If you live in a compound in the woods, collect guns by the hundreds, are paranoid and anti-social, are a member of a cult that believes all non-cult members are out to get them and should ultimately be killed... should they be allowed to terminate your employment based on your risky behavior and their potential liability if you happen to decide to start offing people on their property?

Same scenario, if you engage in risky behavior (aka illegal drug use), it's extremely likely that such risky behavior could spill over into your work life, and they might never know until you cause a fellow employee or customer's death.

Again, it's voluntary and a condition of employment. If I believe I should be allowed to express my religious belief that ****** is natural and should be accepted, is any potential employer required to let me come to work in the buff? Nope... it's my right to find a job that will respect my beliefs.

 

[thatkidbob 10+ year member]

So how do you suggest the company weed out the lazy pieces of shit from the ones that can still function?

performance. in most industries it can be quantified pretty well.
employers don't seem to base decisions on performance though... i know quite a few people who have received promotions into jobs that they don't do very well, yet keep their jobs. some use drugs, some don't, but people in both categories can be equal in ineptitude.

the main reason they do drug tests is to avoid liability and terminate employees cheaply. Its a means to an end, not an end in and of itself, and surely not the only means to that end.

 

[thatkidbob 10+ year member]

Well yea. Of course that is what it is leveraged for. What's wrong with that?
Why would any company want to accept liability that was unnecessary?

ohhh... no no no... i should've been more clear.
i have no problem with limiting liability, whether it be tax liability, accident liability or otherwise.

I'm just saying that the drug tests aren't done out of any anti-drug stance, they're only in place to limit liability. It isn't a moral position, but a business decision. One of the posters in this thread seems to be in a position where he makes HR decisions. He mentioned that drug tests provide a cheap way to fire bad apples and, though good workers are ensnared from time to time, more good is done than harm from a financial standpoint.

If that were to change, if drug testing began to effect the bottom line, you can be sure that companies would move away from it and try other methods of selecting and maintaining a productive work force.

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

Why would any company want to accept liability that was unnecessary?

They don't, hence random drug testing.

I work for a bank, I know there are people that work here that do drugs as well.

It's called employement-at-will, you don't like it find another job.

 

[DubbDesigns 10+ year member]

Oh shit.

I am glad I seen this post, I was going to go get wasted this weekend, but after seeing this I remembered I have to take a drug/alcohol screening monday or tuesday so I can get this job i want.

Alcohol doesn't stay in your system very long does it? this question prolly been asked on here already but iam too lazy

 

[DubbDesigns 10+ year member]

If I drunk a shitload of alcohol in the past 3 days would it show:crap:???

 

[thatkidbob 10+ year member]

I don't see any problem with that. Companies need every advantage they can get.

That part wasn't addressed to you in particular... its just that i'm detecting moralism in some of these replies and happened to address it in my post to you

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

Within reason. An African American can't choose to quit being African American //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif A drug user CAN choose to quit in order to maintain employment. You are once again bringing bananas to an apple show.

i brought up religion as well, thats a choice, but you cant use that as a factor on if you will hire or not...

of course a smoker or anyone else (well i dont know i have never done hard drugs so maybe they cant quit in which case they have a problem) can quit in order to maintain employment. hell i havent smoked for months now, and i always take nice long breaks from it...but that doesnt mean its right to ask someone to piss in a cup for an employer, or have hair plucked out of their head, or give blood, not just to keep their job, but to also get hired. im glad canada at least has some sense in this matter.

im pretty much over this thread though.