When Should Managers Drug Test in the Workplace?

Drug testing in the workplace is proven to reducemake certain that the workforce is focused on
safety accidents and increase overall productivity,their tasks at hand and truly desire their job.
but when is the right time for an employer toWhen randomly drug testing, it is important to not
implement drug and alcohol screening? There is aonly test "high risk" individuals but also neutral
fine line between being an invasive boss who losesemployees to truly make the process random as
employee trust and happiness and a smartdrug abuse occurs at all levels in the workplace.
manager protecting their business. Thanks to theFor-Cause
advent of cheap and effective urine drug testingOften in the work environment an employee will
kits, substance abuse screening can easily occurbegin to exhibit the tell tale signs of substance
on a job site and in the workplace with reliableabuse or drug use. This can include changes in
results at any time. A successful businessphysical appearance and behavior, work
operator will want to exam their employees forperformance, safety record or confirmed office
drugs and alcohol in the following situations.talk. For cause drug testing is also referred to as
Pre-employmentprobable cause screening or reasonable suspicion.
When attempting to hire new employees, drugProtect your assets by using a urine drug test in
testing should be part of the application process.the office to guarantee if the employee in
This will remove undesirable candidates from thequestion has violated the company's substance
prospective job ensuring that only the mostabuse policy.
reliable individuals will be available for employment.Periodic Announcements
There are two main types of pre-employmentThis type of drug and alcohol screening occurs
drug screening used in companies both large andwhen an entire company or division is given
small. A pre-screening occurs after an applicationadvanced notice. Often used in conjunction with
has been approved but before an officialyearly physical or health evaluations, periodic
interview. This will save the time and effort forannouncements for drug tests will give your
the manager in charge of the hiring process.employees plenty of notice and will effectively
Depending on the business, many supervisorsconvey your trust of their cleanliness.
prefer to drug test after the interview process toPost-Accident
ensure that the potential employee is worth theWhen a safety accidents occurs, whether in a
cost of the screening equipment. A conditionalvehicle, warehouse or office space, if it appears
offer of employment is used once theto have involved a lapse in simple judgment an
prospective candidate is offered a job provisionalemployee should expect a drug test. Human error
to the successful completion of the drug test.is the number one cause of job related accidents
This guarantees that only the most deserving andand often drug use is the culprit. Similar to "for
well qualified will even be considered for the opencause" employee drug testing, protect your legal
position. Determining whether to test for drugsliability and human life by guaranteeing that the
and alcohol before or after the interview processindividual is sober and not making careless
is dependent upon your individual business needsmistakes due to a drug problem.
and available resources.Drug testing in the workplace simply makes
Randomsense. As a manager, the benefits of employee
Once all of your employees have been hired andscreening are indispensable. There are many
are successfully working at their jobs it isopportunities for a savvy boss to screen
important to shut down the opportunity andemployees, from the interview process to
availability for them to abuse drugs or alcohol. Byrandom testing of long time workers. Protect
periodically and randomly drug testing withoutyour staff, protect yourself and most importantly
advanced notice it will prevent your employeesprotect the business by implementing company
from thinking that they are "safe" and can getwide drug testing policies.
high. Random drug screening is also beneficial to