Hiring Hurdle: Finding Workers Who Can Pass a Drug Test

The New York Times ^ | 17 May 2016 | Jackie Calmes

[Theoria]

A few years back, the heavy-equipment manufacturer JCB held a job fair in the glass foyer of its sprawling headquarters near here, but when a throng of prospective employees learned the next step would be drug testing, an alarming thing happened: About half of them left.

That story still circulates within the business community of this historic port city. But the problem has gotten worse.

All over the country, employers say they see a disturbing downside of tighter labor markets as they try to rebuild from the worst recession since the Depression: They are struggling to find workers who can pass a pre-employment drug test.

That hurdle partly stems from the growing ubiquity of drug testing, at corporations with big human resources departments, in industries like trucking where testing is mandated by federal law for safety reasons, and increasingly at smaller companies.

But data suggest employers’ difficulties also reflect an increase in the use of drugs, especially marijuana — employers’ main gripe — and also heroin and other opioid drugs much in the news.

Ray Gaster, the owner of lumberyards on both sides of the Georgia-South Carolina border, recently joined friends at a retreat in Alabama to swap business talk. The big topic? Drug tests.

“They were complaining about trying to find drivers, or finding people, who are drug-free and can do some of the jobs that they have,” Mr. Gaster said. He shared their concern.

[thulldud]

...when confronted about his failed drug test, admitted that his friend who provided the sample promised that the urine was clean!

Can't trust anybody these days.

[b4me]

yes almost everyone has some sort of drug/addict problem that effects their work performance.

Those habitually tardy or leaving early,
those who take OTC’s or chronic coffee or bathroom breaks,
those over hyper on energy drinks and such,
those over sleepy brain not up to speed,
those with eating issues, worry issues or such that makes them susceptible to being sick a lot,
those constantly making personal calls (hubby or kids, etc), texting and such
those regularly surfing the internet at work or doing other such things that is not work related

When I started in the workforce, work time was work time and if you did not do a good job, they let you know and found a replacement for you.

Today people think they are entitled to a job, but show up with all sorts of habitual addictive issues that regularly interfere with their true work/performance.
Many don’t even care that they are stealing from their employers, maybe not materially, but time, lost productivity and such.

[Cedar]

I can’t take credit for the druggie work force concept first implied on this thread. That goes to the author of the article.