What do you think of drug test at work? Are they necessary?

[Anonymous]

I work at hospital as admin assistant and every 3 months employees need to take drug test

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

For a hospital? A place filled with opioids and other addictive painkillers? It’s completely necessary. You’d be surprised how many addicts start as nurses or hospital staff in general.

[Asker]

What bothers me is not the drug test its just always us employees pay for that every 3 months deducted in our salary

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

So talk to the people in charge about how, if the drug tests are completely necessary, the hospital should pay for it. I’m sure you can ask a lawyer and they can find something you can legally hold over them in exchange

[DishLady]

Yeah, if you're operating equipment, managing confidential/sensitive materials or providing healthcare to others it's VERY necessary to make sure your team is fully functional. Athletes also get them to make sure that they don't have an unfair advantage over their peers -- check out the testing standards for the Olympics as a good example.

[DryGermanGuy]

Illegal in most cases in my country, it’s deemed invasion of bodily autonomy.

[jahaims]

Waste of company money. They are easy to pass unless it is a hair test

[IslaTheWitch]

it depends on the place you work... I seriously doubt anyone would want to test software engineers... but if you work in a place where drugs are available and human lives are at stake (like in hospital) I assume it makes sense...

[provokeesmokee]

In healthcare? Yeah, sounds good.

For only office work? Nah.

If you're not responsible for people's lives or health, and you don't risk breaking any HIPPA or FOIP laws, then who cares?

[Asker]

What bothers me is not the drug test its just always us employees pay for that every 3 months deducted in our salary

[provokeesmokee]

Oh fuck, that's fucked up. No that should be covered.

Look up local labour laws. Depending where you live you may have the ability to fight that.

[Booklover_90]

Yes. If you work in a hospital, you should know how drugs (negatively) affect people. Anyway, yes absolutely necessary. You don’t people coming into work high or in an otherwise altered state of mind. The turnover rate would be insane.

[Asker]

What bothers me is not the drug test its just always us employees pay for that every 3 months deducted in our salary

[Kelley1]

As long as they pay for it, that is a condition of employment that is in the purview of the employer. If it bothers you, look for another job.

[Asker]

What bothers me is not the drug test is always us employee pay for that every 3 months deducted in our salary

[Kelley1]

Sue them in small claims court for the balance of your salary. You might win. They can't fire you for that. They can lay you off but they can't single you out or it opens them up to a lawsuit. Layoffs much be reasonable such as last hired or the department you work at has been limited. Nor can the hire a replacement without first giving you the opportunity to return

If you don't win in small claims court, sue again in 3 months because since you have already passed several so there is no justification for additional drug test.

[dustybiker2]

They have obviously found it is necessary. One bad apple can complicate the entire system.

[Aubrey97]

Yes, for a hospital, those definitely should be necessary.