41–50 of 58 posts
As the quote from the article says: “most people can’t pass the drug test because they don’t want to pass a drug test.” I work in manufacturing. We make it easy to pass. Several days from interview to test. That's every place I've been. And as the article suggests, its almost exclusively whites not passing. I figure its a culture thing.
Anecdata, but a good friend of mine is Mexican and missed out on a good job because of the drug test...
Many professional jobs don't require drug tests. So is it really about finding the "best workers"? Could you imagine if software companies rejected people for marijuana use?
Prospective professional employees are screened using college degrees or professional experience.
Why would an employer want to drug test employees? Do some still believe there is some kind of correlation between (prescription or self-medicated) drug use? From the article: > In Colorado, “to find a roofer or a painter that can pass a drug test is unheard-of,” Sure, it makes some sense for a few, select jobs like truck driving. But why would you care what your roofer or painter did last night, as long as the job g…
> But why would you care what your roofer or painter did last night If I'm a roofer, I don't want the guy holding my ladder to be hung over.
Many professional jobs don't require drug tests. So is it really about finding the "best workers"? Could you imagine if software companies rejected people for marijuana use?
I know lots of developers who don't do drugs at all who refuse to take the test out of principle.
Drug testing is absolutely a good idea for jobs where worker impairment presents an imminent physical danger to lives and property (e.g. trucking, medical professions, powerline repair crews). Likewise, limited use of criminal background checks may be a good idea for certain jobs (a bank robber shouldn't be allowed to work in a bank). But the idea that these should be general conditions of employment across all indus…
Is it really a good idea, though? A guy can smoke a joint on the weekend and do a dangerous job on Tuesday. At the same time, passing a drug test doesn't mean you won't be intoxicated on the job. They don't test everyday, and lots of drugs (alcohol, cocaine, etc) get out of your system very quickly. I understand the desire (you don't want someone on drugs at work), but drug testing doesn't do a very good job of getti…
The situation with weed is certainly the troubling one. You can test positive for it for almost a month after moderate use. Add to that fact its increasing legality and acceptance in the US and you've got a widespread employment problem.
As the quote from the article says: “most people can’t pass the drug test because they don’t want to pass a drug test.” I work in manufacturing. We make it easy to pass. Several days from interview to test. That's every place I've been. And as the article suggests, its almost exclusively whites not passing. I figure its a culture thing.
> as the article suggests, its almost exclusively
> whites not passing.
Drug testing is absolutely a good idea for jobs where worker impairment presents an imminent physical danger to lives and property (e.g. trucking, medical professions, powerline repair crews). Likewise, limited use of criminal background checks may be a good idea for certain jobs (a bank robber shouldn't be allowed to work in a bank). But the idea that these should be general conditions of employment across all indus…
Every single one of my friends smokes weed regularly and are employed despite most of them being subject to drug testing during the hiring process. To me, all a negative drug test shows is that a prospective employee either doesn't use drugs(which is probably a relative rarity these days), or that they do use drugs but are either resourceful enough to find a way to beat the test or disciplined enough to plan ahead. I guess in this sense perhaps the tests do serve some purpose.
My only issue would be with random unscheduled drug testing which to me serves little purpose, outside of jobs were impairment may pose a risk to others.
Far more concerning to me are criminal records or poor credit being used to withhold employment from a large segment of our population.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You care because you don't want to deal with workplace injuries and druggies stealing your stuff. Roofers are high turnover, low/moderate skill folks. If the business model requires reliable guys, you may consider it.
Better not hire any drinkers, then. They might steal your stuff, and pawn it for a fifth. No smokers, too. Nicotine withdrawal is hell.
What I find particularly amusing is that its usually some baby boomer who takes 5 different prescription meds a day, smokes cigars and drinks scotch regularly that will say just how evil mj is...
The drug wars are created and controlled black markets for the darker of the global threeletters. Combine that with pharmaceutical self interests and unsetteling profits that the public tends to forget about, our entire idea and classification of medication is extrmely primitive and far too influenced by politics and corruption rather than science.