Pre-employment Drug Screening

Nowadays, most of the organizations are implementing pre-employment drug screening program in hiring process. As it helps in preventing and protecting the organization from drug abused employees. And it also saves the cost of healthcare and compensations that are lost in the drug abused employee.

Methods of  pre-employment drug screening:

• Laboratory test: It is one of the most basic method of drug testing. In this method, it requires specimens (hair, urine, blood) of the applicant and then the samples are send to the certified laboratory.

• Drug testing kits: In the market, many instant drug test kits are available. So, this could be the best option for the employer to find the job applicants drug habits.

Requirements for the pre-employment drug screening:

• Written drug testing policy: Employer should have a written drug testing policy to have a drug free job applicants.
• When to do drug screening
• Type of drug screening tools to be used
• Timing of the drug test
• What to do if the results are positive
• Procedure to follow to conduct drug test
• Drug abusers are not entertained

• Notify the job applicants: This is very important part in hiring process. Employer should notify the job applicants through the employment application form at the interview time.
• Notify in advance: Employer should give prior written notice of "employment drug screening" to the job applicants before testing. Because many drug testing laws says that the job applicants should be notified in advance about the test and under what condition.
• Written notice details: It contains about the type of drug testing will be carried out on the applicant.

• Employer should do the same drug testing program for all the job applicants in a particular job category. There should be no bias or discrimination while conducting the drug test.

• Know your state and industry's regulations: It is suggested to know changes happening in the states and federal laws. Example: Certain type of background screening procedures should be followed.

Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law that protects the individuals with the disabilities from discrimination. So, employer should offer conditional job offer letter to the job applicant which should indicate that job offer is conditional on completion of a drug test with positive results. And also employer should not discriminate job applicant in the hiring process based on use of prescription medication.

• Get the job applicant's consent: Employer should get the written certification from the job applicant about that he got notified about the background check, drug testing and others. Because, if the employer test the applicant without his knowledge or consent then this could lead to a legal problem.