Pre-Employment Physical, Medical, and Drug Tests

A potential employer who has at least 15hiring an office receptionist, you normally shouldn't
employees (and is therefore covered by federalask the applicant to lift 75-pound weights as part
laws against disability discrimination) cannot requireof the medical exam. On the other hand, if you
a job applicant to take such a test beforeare hiring for a parcel service job, you might be
offering the applicant a job.able to reject an applicant that can't lift a
You must offer a job to a potential employee75-pound weight.
before requiring him or her to take a medical or- Confidentiality
physical examination. You might then be able to- Pre-employment drug test Confidentiality
reject the potential employee if the exam showsGenerally, the results of the exam must be kept
that he or she cannot perform the essential jobin a file separate from the employee's regular
functions with or without a reasonablepersonnel file and should not be revealed to
accommodation. Remember: If you reject theanyone except a medical practitioner, such as the
potential employee after failing the exam, then hecompany doctor or, with the employee's consent,
or she will know that the only reason for thethe employee's personal physician.
rejection was the exam. Therefore, you mustCan I require an applicant to take a
make sure not to deny employment due apre-employment drug test?
disability revealed during the exam, as long as theStates have differing laws regarding drug tests.
potential employee's disability may be reasonablyGenerally, drug tests are permitted for applicants
accommodated without an undue hardship to yourfor all types of jobs, even jobs that are not
business."safety sensitive."
The exam must be related to the work theClick to read more articles from GotTrouble.
employee will be doing. For example, if you are