Drug Testing In The Workplace

In 1986, the government created the Drug-Free Workplace Program. It allowed drug testing to be done anywhere and anytime by employers. Some companies have mandated drug testing, but not as many as there should be. According to the Department of Labor (DOL), employers drug test employees at many different times such as: pre-employment, post-accident, random, periodic, return-to-duty, or just because they are suspicious of misusing drugs. Employers have the right to drug test employees at any time, because of the Drug-Free Workplace Program. The DOL also states the many different reasons employers mandate drug testing; such as making the workplace a safe environment, push employees away from misusing drugs and alcohol, not allowing individuals

In professional sports they mainly focus on treatment for the substance abuse rather than punishing the athlete. All professional sports test for different drugs. The National Football League only tests for the main illegal drugs at two different times of the year. Both of those times aren’t even during season. In my opinion, they need to be tested a few times during then season. If the players know that they aren’t going to be tested until February, they have nothing to worry about while playing in season. They could be using illegal drugs through all of football season without ever getting caught. Although the players can be legally tested at any time during the season, they most likely aren’t going to be tested unless suspected of drug

Seventy-eight and a half percent of manufacturing companies test before hiring and forty-two percent test all employees. Manufacturing companies use heavy equipment and it would be very unsafe for someone under the influence to be operating a piece of heavy equipment. Wholesale and retail is the next type of companies that conduct the most drug tests. Sixty-three percent of wholesale and retail companies drug test employees before hiring and about thirty-nine percent test after hiring. I understand why that would be a bigger type of company to drug test. If I owned a store, I would not want people who are using drugs to be my salesmen. Many customers would not shop at my store if I had people who were using drugs or even looked like they were on drugs.

In 2012, four point one percent of the US General Workforce that was drug tested, tested positive. That is one reason for employers to drug test. There are no specific types of companies that are tested positive more than other companies, so every employer should be testing their employees. You never know when someone will be using drugs. The best thing to do would be to drug test all employees, so employers can weed out the