Drug tests for unemployment benefits approved (in Texas)

KHOU ^ | 5/25/2013 | MICHAEL BRICK

[wizwor]

Where I work, both.

[Monty22002]

Actually, they cancel insurance all the time when you collect like that.

[TexasRedeye]

Does the newly unemployed only have to test once, or subject to ongoing random?

If I read and hear correctly, NO ONE has to pass a drug test to receive benefits under the new law. First time applicants will have to fill out a questionairre and IF some answer is suspect, only then wifll a drug test be required. I wonder who is going to find the "suspect" answers, hmmmmm?

[longtermmemmory]

why not give them free one way bus tickets to NYC?

[X-spurt]

I’m in for free oneway passage back to their “motherland”, couple of thousand miles SE.

[microgood]

This will be struck down by the courts. It is unconstitutional unless they can provide probable cause. Same with welfare. Private companies can do this. The government cannot.

[SkyPilot]

I met with a couple in my church a few years ago. They were asking for prayer for their daughter, who had lost her job and had been on unemployment for about a year and a half.

They said she was a decent person; although she had struggled somewhat like we all do in life, when she was employed she worked hard and took care of her son (her marriage had previously broken up).

Once she started collecting unemployment, her life took a spiral descent into drug and alcohol addiction. Her parents said they would go over to her apartment early in the morning, and she would be drinking and using from the time she got up.

Her father laid part of the blame on the fact that she got a check, but didn't have to report for work or even look for a job. He said she knew the "checks would just keep on coming, and she had zero motivation to clean herself up and change."

I know this is an anecdotal story, but I cannot help but believe that this circumstance is repeated time and time again, in city after city, state after state.

We have spent almost a Trillion dollars on unemployment in just the past few years - in effect, paying people not to work.

I don't begrudge taking unemployment for a short time. Many, many people have lost their jobs, and an amount is deducted from paychecks to help offset this cost (although the Federal government pays a huge amount of this cost through deficit spending).

The old adage is that "idle hands are the devil's playground." I think there is some truth to that. Getting paid to lay on the couch can lead to addiction in many people - period.

[RWGinger]

“I would like to be reimbursed when an ex-employee fails drug testing.”
Excellent point and I agree completely

I also don’t want to pay unemployment or disability for drug addicts or obesity

[bert]

-——I would like to be reimbursed ———

That is interesting. I no longer have any employees but have heard tales of the problems and expense related to drug test applications.

I wonder if there could be a “Drug Test Deposit”

You pass, it is reimbursed with the first pay check. If failed, no reimbursement

the deposit is not great, say $10, maybe $20. Those who know they are clean will pay. Those who know they will not or might not may just not complete their application submission. A receipt clearly stating the rules will be given for the money.