Employees who abuse drugs are more likely to have higher rates of absenteeism, tardiness, job hopping, workplace incidents involving third parties, and workers’ compensation claims, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
If you’re an employer, you want to fill available positions with the most qualified people. In addition to pre-employment background checks, you might also consider pre-employment drug testing. It is an efficient tool that can help you make better hiring decisions and ensure a safe workplace for all your employees.
What Is Pre-Employment Drug Testing?
Potential employees are often required to pass a drug test before they begin work to identify any issues with substance usage.
Many organizations include drug testing in their pre-employment screening processes. Typical tests look for drugs including: amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and phencyclidine, burt many employers are now testing for commonly abused prescription drugs like benzodiazepines, oxy and fentanyl. And some exclude marijuana for jobs not classified as safety-sensitive.
Most employers in regulated industries are required to perform pre-employment drug tests. Pre-employment drug tests are important as they can help boost productivity by reducing accidents and injury rates and ensuring a healthy, safe workplace for all your employees. Employers in the private sector that the government does not regulate are permitted but not obligated to perform pre-employment drug testing.
Pre-employment drug tests can be performed using urine, saliva or hair. However, most often urine is preferred.
Are Your Employees Regulated By The US DOT? (e.g. CDL Drivers)
Check Our DOT Compliance ProgramKey Benefits of Pre-Employment Drug Testing
- Helps avoid hiring employees that use drugs
- Ensures a safe working environment for all employees
- Decreases the risk of accidents at work
- Reduces absenteeism
- Promote a drug-free company culture
At Screeningwise we aim to provide you with all the necessary tools to make cost-effective and the best possible employee decisions.