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Workplace drug testing

The company I work has random drug testing, which occurs about once every three months. A couple of weeks ago I was called in to be tested. Fine with me, as I have nothing to hide and I feel that the company has every right to call me in for three reasons. One, it's a known fact that I'm on antidepressants. Two, I have had knee surgery three times, and who's to say I'm not hooked on pain killers(which I'm not.) And lastly, I have admitted to have used recreational drugs when I was in my twenties.

The reason we have this mandatory testing is that we work on jobs for the government. Is it fair? I think so as what they are looking for are illegal drugs and others that aren't prescribed to the person using them. It just strongly advocates personal responsibility.

Where I work we make maintenance parts for the railroad. It's not unreasonable to expect employees to work unimpaired. After all, we have people's lives in our hands.

Comments

Pat Jenkins said…
huh this has always been a tough one for me wixy, if a company has a right to "watch" what you do outside the work place....
May 09, 2008 12:03 PM
Cliff said…
Depends on your values. I've been told that they were looking for illegal drugs, but they sometimes catch the one who uses a pain killer prescribed to their spouse or someone else. Problem is where do you draw the line?

I worked jobs in the seventies where you would go out and smoke your lunch then come back and operate the machines. One of the jobs I had was in a state home for the mentally retarded. When do you become a danger to yourself and others? Stupid stuff like that keeps union stewards busy.
May 09, 2008 1:18 PM
kim23 said…
The company I work for also has random drug testing which occurs about once every two months. I strongly believe that a faa drug abatement program is absolutely necessary and helpful for any organization. Substance abuse issues can really be avoided with the help of this method.
September 02, 2011 8:54 AM
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