Companies Aren’t Drug Testing Employees Because of the Labor Shortage, Survey Shows

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

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"Employers around the world are starting to get rid of drug testing in an effort to entice more prospective applicants in the wake of a global labor shortage, according to a report from Vice.

Staffing firm ManpowerGroup released a survey showing that out of more than 45,000 employers from 43 countries, nine percent, or around 4,050, have admitted to eliminating drug testing to “attract and retain in-demand talent.”

“The global talent shortage shows no sign of slowing, with 69 percent of employers reporting difficulty filling roles,” the survey’s executive summary reads. “The employment outlook is optimistic, particularly for employers that are prepared to adapt to a new world of work and offer incentives to attract and retain the talent they need.”

This course change on drug testing comes months after online shopping giant Amazon announced a change to its own policy, removing marijuana from the company’s screening program. Amazon voiced its support in an open letter to lawmakers earlier this month for the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, and later pushed for the passing of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, arguing that such a provision “will open significant new economic opportunities for millions of capable individuals.” "

https://www.complex.com/life/companies-not-drug-testing-employees-labor-shortage
 

It depends on the job - the company I worked for had over 1,000 truck drivers on the payroll. They all had to pass the initial drug screen, and were subject to random drug testing after that.
 
Buckeye said:
It depends on the job - the company I worked for had over 1,000 truck drivers on the payroll. They all had to pass the initial drug screen, and were subject to random drug testing after that.
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That's the thing. Will the employee be around or operating heavy machinery, fixing or making something with life or death consequences if it fails. Probably alot of customer service type jobs. The bar and restaraunt has been a hotbed for druggies for decades because it includes cash tips, access to alcohol and/or drug dealers. It will comeback on a lot of them because once hired many union or non unio companies wind up having to give employees 3 chances at rehab before they can fired. Rehab is expensive. Loosing customers because of a botched sale from intoxicated employee no good either.
 

For some reason, there is a huge shortage of truck drivers, and dock workers at the seaside ports. Dozens of ships are waiting to be unloaded, and warehouses are filling up, yet getting the products to the stores and customers is becoming an increasing problem. The "refusal" to participate in the vaccine programs, coupled with government welfare plans which only encourage workers to stay home, is having an increasing effect on the economy...with shortages, and rising consumer prices.
 
Years ago I started a new job and they didn't drug test. I asked someone why and they replied "because half the front office would fail." True or not, I don't know. My current job didn't drug test either. I'd be happy to take the test anytime.
 
Some big trucking companies here have huge signs on their chain link fence. We are hiring, No tests also hiring ex-cons.$10,000.00 sign-on bonus.
Now that's how bad the driver shortage is.
 
Tom 86 said:
Some big trucking companies here have huge signs on their chain link fence. We are hiring, No tests also hiring ex-cons.$10,000.00 sign-on bonus.
Now that's how bad the driver shortage is.
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It's sounds great now and could pay off for many companies but those with drug and alcohol issues will not only cost company but sooner or later their habit and attitude will cost everyone. Especially when operating heavy machinery.
 
The company that I worked for has over 170,000 employees.

We did not have drug tests and we could not do anything about drug or alcohol use unless we could prove it was being used while at work and or it impacted the employee’s ability to perform their duties.

The tobacco policy was more strictly monitored and enforced.
 
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Unless a licensing requirement or heavy machinery involved most companies won't drug test but once a person is found to have been using on the job they're frequently open to random testing.

I saw career drunks who were able to drink on the job sneeking booze on job or into bars. As soon as they had that first incident if a supervisor felt they were high they could be tested for any incident. One guy had an accident, several months later he got caught going into the computer system himself for a work assignment for related overtime. Supervisor ordered test and sure enough came up positive. To get out he had to go to rehab a second time. Lost track of him after was sent to rehab a third and last time for something
 
There are some jobs I feel ought to test, but for most non-safety-related jobs it is ridiculous to get rid of employees that smoke marijuana on the weekend. We had a really awesome young person in our office who failed due to that and he had to wait for a year to come back. It was such a pity because he was so hard working and smart and was the best in the group of younger employees. Also my daughter when she was in college got suspended from her part-time job for several weeks for refusing a drug test (because apparently marijuana lingers and she didn't want to risk losing the job if the test came out positive).
They need to have a drug test that detects current state, instead of traces from the weekend. How many people would lose their jobs if they were given alcohol tests that detected use over the past weekend or month.
 
HoneyNut said:
There are some jobs I feel ought to test, but for most non-safety-related jobs it is ridiculous to get rid of employees that smoke marijuana on the weekend. We had a really awesome young person in our office who failed due to that and he had to wait for a year to come back. It was such a pity because he was so hard working and smart and was the best in the group of younger employees. Also my daughter when she was in college got suspended from her part-time job for several weeks for refusing a drug test (because apparently marijuana lingers and she didn't want to risk losing the job if the test came out positive).
They need to have a drug test that detects current state, instead of traces from the weekend. How many people would lose their jobs if they were given alcohol tests that detected use over the past weekend or month.
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I see what you mean but even jobs dealing with large sums of money/cash drug use has inspired more than one to tap the til. I don't want a drug using financial advisor handling my retirement.

But yes they need a way to differentiate active use/intoxication or old use. I've seen too many wind up dealing with the consequences of years of drug or alcohol use/abuse so I not going to condone it but there are those that should not be denied the opportunity or job either.
 

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