Benefits of Employee Drug Testing

In the last 30 years, the practice of employment				advent of employee drug tests.
drug testing has become increasingly prevalent as				Employers can test for drugs in several ways;
employers strive to ensure that their workforce				however, the two most commonly used methods
is drug free. There are many reasons for				for employment drug testing are urinalysis testing
companies to utilize employment drug testing,				and the hair follicle test. Urinalysis testing involves
which is why an estimated 65% of employers in				obtaining a urine sample which is processed by a
the Unites States include some level of testing as				laboratory and screened for trace amounts of
a condition of employment. The motivations for				narcotic and illicit substances. Labs which conduct
employers to test for drugs are varied and				urinalysis testing are subjected to strict federal
include protection from on the job injury liability,				guidelines, which means that the results of these
the augmentation of overall productivity, or simply				tests are highly accurate and can be admissible in
the screening of undesirable candidates during the				a court should the need arise. For smaller
hiring process. Whichever reason compels you to				businesses, there are urine drug tests available for
begin employment drug testing within your				on-site urine screening which produce similarly
company, the overwhelming consensus is that				accurate results while cutting down the cost and
you are making the right choice going forward.				omitting the need to send results to a laboratory.
Studies of employees in the field and overall				The hair follicle test is the other standard for
market production for companies which use				employment drug testing and is less invasive than
employment drug testing demonstrate its				urinalysis testing. A potential hire or current
effectiveness. Employee drug testing is most				employee need only pluck a few hairs and submit
effective as a two-pronged approach, in which				them for testing. Hair follicle tests are a vital
potential hires are screened for prior drug use				component of employment drug testing because
while long-term employees are given random				they can detect drug usage for a longer period of
tests periodically. It has been proven that on the				time than urinalysis. Drug use causes a buildup of
job safety increases dramatically within companies				trace chemicals during hair growth, and while
that test for drugs, while tardiness and				urinalysis testing is dependent on the bloodstream,
absenteeism is reduced while productivity is				hair can contain traces of past drug use for up to
increased. This combination of screening both new				90 days. The strongest employee drug test
hires and veteran employees ensures that a				programs will combine both urinalysis and hair
company's overall productivity will increase in the				follicle testing for maximum effectiveness.