What types of drug screening options are there?

Many different types of tests exist to see if people might potentially be using drugs. There are two main categories of tests, “conventional” and “instant.” Conventional tests include urine, blood, hair and saliva-based tests. Instant tests include dip cassettes, saliva drug tests, integrated drug test cups and breath-alcohol tests. Some types of conventional testing may take a few hours or days to process, but they may be more optimal for your organization if you don’t need instant results.

What benefits do I get from a drug testing program?

Some employers may be hesitant to begin a drug testing program, since they’re not always incredibly efficient. However, there are many benefits to starting drug testing for potential employees and even current hires. Drug screening before employment can help you be sure that you’re making the right decision during the hiring process. It may also help you protect your organization – as the National Federal of Independent Business points out, drug users may be more likely to apply for a job at small companies, since they may not have well-established drug testing procedures. Easy ordering and online processes make it easier than ever to start a drug testing program in your workplace, making these benefits even more useful.

What are the laws surrounding drug testing?

While every state is different, you do want to ensure that you’re on the right side of the law when it comes to drug testing. For example, testing specific people in your workplace (instead of testing all employees) might potentially open you up to discrimination lawsuits. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re lawfully testing potential hires, which, in many cases, requires making a conditional offer of employment before conducting the drug screening.

While drug testing can be a great way to ensure that your office and clientele stay safe, it may also come along with a few challenges. Before you start a drug testing program at your workplace, make sure you’re well aware of the benefits and potential liabilities. This will help protect both you and your place of employment. Contact us!

The post Employer FAQs: What Is Drug Screening? appeared first on JDP.

What happens in a drug screening?

There are many different types of drug screening procedures that you may wish to pursue when you’re implementing a testing policy. Conventional drug testing methods include blood tests, urinalysis, saliva tests and breath alcohol tests. Some of these methods are instant, which can help speed up the testing process. These screening methods have varying levels of effectiveness, and may report false positives. This is why many employers who implement drug testing use a “split sample” method, where two samples are taken at the same time and tested separately, to ensure accuracy.

What is pre-employment drug screening?

Screening job candidates for drug use prior to employment is a common practice. Not only does this ensure that you’re hiring drug-free employees, it can also help your workplace stay drug-free. Some companies have policies in place that allow them to rescind a conditional job offer if the candidate tests positive for drugs. Depending on your state’s laws as well as the job position, you may need to implement a specific policy.

How can I develop a drug screening employment process?

Some employers may wish to continue testing employees at random to ensure that the workplace stays drug free. However, it’s important to have processes and policies in place before beginning any drug testing program. You should ensure that information about the process is included in your employee handbook, and that your drug testing policies are posted. Even if it’s not required by law in your state, it’s good practice to ensure that your employees are familiar with your procedures.

Staying compliant with drug testing laws in your state

Of course, every state has its own laws regarding drug testing. For example, while most states do allow pre-employment drug screening, some states require that you may only test employees who have been conditionally offered a job. It is to your benefit to learn more about drug testing laws and policies in your state.

Benefits of a screening drug test

If you’ve decided to pursue drug screening in your workplace, it may be beneficial to all employees. Drug users may put other employees at risk, particularly in certain industries. It can benefit your company to stay drug-free – and part of that process may be putting a drug screening policy in place. Contact us to discuss drug screening services!

The post What is Drug Screening and How Can I Stay Compliant? appeared first on JDP.