Scott Orders State Workers Drug Testing

The Ledger via AP ^ | Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 9:23 p.m. | BILL KACZOR

[sarasmom]

Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered drug testing Tuesday of new hires and spot checks of existing state employees under him, but civil rights and labor lawyers questioned whether the directive was legal.

[sarasmom]

It appears government workers "Collective Bargained" themselves an exemption to maintaining a "drug free workplace", although all their vendors must comply....

[SatinDoll]

Yes, it is legal. Many workplaces do so.

[greyfoxx39]

It appears government workers "Collective Bargained" themselves an exemption to maintaining a "drug free workplace",

Why not? The most VIP government worker keeps the White House under a "drug free" exemption.

[SunkenCiv]

Florida, thanks sarasmom.

[NWFLConservative]

I find it funny that it is nearly always the liberals who object to the drug testing. Don’t do drugs and you won’t have to worry. The incidence of false positives making it to the final report is now so low as to be considered statistically insignificant. Any rapid test or automated chemistry analyzer positive now MUST to be confirmed using HPLC. So barring a chain of custody mixup, if you come up hot, you might as well just admit you did it and clean out your desk.

[Minn]

Pre employment drug screening is a joke, netting only really dumb pot smokers that likely aren't up for the job anyway, since it stays in the system far longer than any other drug. Random testing of non safety related workers is a clear intrusion, and illegal in most states.

I wonder what prompted this. Has their been an outbreak of stoned computer programmers, or something?

[Lazamataz]

I’m a contractor for a government agency and I am subject to drug testing at any moment. I like this directive.

[blackdog]

If we could just drug all the state workers, give them free prostitutes of any gender, give them free booze, fast cars, and handguns, we'd realize the end of big government as we knew it.

A whole lot cheaper and a whole lot less civil liberty arguments.

[microgood]

I find it funny that it is nearly always the liberals who object to the drug testing.

Drug testing is unconstitutional. It violates the 4th Amendment. Anyone who does not object to it is a traitor to this country.

I think they should make the governor drop his pants in front of his whole staff and do it every morning.

Don’t do drugs and you won’t have to worry.

Well maybe the government should be able to kick your house door down and search it without a warrant anytime they feel like it. After all, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

[JoeProBono]

[torchthemummy]

For these lawyers to successfully negate this is to essentially ban any drug testing. I don’t see the need for drug testing for many occupations but some (hi-powered construction vehicles, mass transit operators, etc.) are necessary. As to private businesses, test away in regards to actual drugs that can truly impair one’s ability in regards to safety. Now the anti-smoking zealots are another story...

I have barely commented on all this stuff since Wisconsin started (since others generally nail the same point I would have made) but I’ve always said to Dems I know that the term “public service” has no meaning if it doesn’t denote an income that is less than an equivalent private sector position. You know, taking less in the belief that serving the public by being paid by the public requires the best bang for the buck especially when you are part of the only game in town.

I also point out that pay/benefits should be determined under the process that creates civil service rules and regs. Period. Again, it is “public service” not “public bonus.”

[microgood]

I’m a contractor for a government agency and I am subject to drug testing at any moment. I like this directive.

It is unfortunate that you are subject to such humiliation. You can thank our traitorous Supreme Court for granting exceptions to the 4th Amendment of the Constitution (which they have no authority to do).

[Minn]

Don?t do drugs and you won?t have to worry.

Don't engage in illicit sexual activity and you won't have to worry about your employer checking you for STDs. Same principle, right? People that pay you to do a job have a right to know what your off hours behavior may have introduced into your body that theoretically could effect your work, or not.

[NWFLConservative]

The 4th Amendmentguards against unreasonable searches and seizures. That all depends on your definition of “unreasonable”.

Personally, after spending over 22 years in the US Army, I hardly find it unreasonable. I don’t want anyone working around me, regardless of occupation, who could be compromised in their judgement, execution of their duties, or there DRIVING ABILITIES through the use of illegal (of for that matter, the abuse of legal) drugs.

It always seems the ones who speak the loudest about this are the ones who don’t want to be tested. How often do you partake?

[greyfoxx39]

If we could just drug all the state workers, give them free prostitutes of any gender, give them free booze, fast cars, and handguns, we'd realize the end of big government as we knew it.

What do you figure the timeline would be on them getting laid, getting drunk, jumping in their Escalade and knocking each other off with the handguns?

I'd give it three months...the end of the reason for big government....no applicants left in the "labor" pool.

[mylife]

The military does it to.
These state workers arent off limits

[RobertClark]

I love it. It is entirely legal - I use pre-employment and monthly random testing on all of my employees. To be fair, I utilize a third party to select the monthly randoms (FleetScreen) and scrutinize the MRO decisions - I include myself in the mix. I've been pulled many times and gladly allow one of my employees to escort me to Concentra. I rely on the ability of my employees to make decisions and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner - the knowledge of possible drug use would certainly be relevant to my business. All of my team members enjoy the benefit of knowing we can always count on each other to be on the top of our game.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I am very uneasy with regard to taking hair samples to test for drug use, and I do not partake of any drugs (other than an occasional asprin) nor alcohol, I do trust the government employees to administer sample taking nor do I trust that my hair sample would not be compromised. It isn’t a simple urine test.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I am very uneasy with regard to taking hair samples to test for drug use, and I do not partake of any drugs (other than an occasional asprin) nor alcohol, I do trust the government employees to administer sample taking nor do I trust that my hair sample would not be compromised. It isn’t a simple urine test.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I am very uneasy with regard to taking hair samples to test for drug use, and I do not partake of any drugs (other than an occasional asprin) nor alcohol, I do trust the government employees to administer sample taking nor do I trust that my hair sample would not be compromised. It isn’t a simple urine test.