Drug tests

[YPrrrr]

At my summer job people shot up heroin in the office

[FAMY2]

WTF? Where did you work again? 

[just1more]

You know what will suck the most? If they give you a hair follicle test.

[don't let's]

"Niggers, jews, and fags aren't allowed to work at my shop"

There is a very good reason we have laws against discrimination by employers.  I disagree with the idea of quotas, but you should be hired on your merits at completing the job you're applying for, and not really anything else.
It would be an invasion of privacy if they, for example, required you to take some sort of "homosexuality test" as a prerequisite to employment, I don't see how this is any different.

But you can refuse to take the test. Sure you won't get the job or you'll most likely lose your job if you refuse, but you still can refuse to take it.
So how is it an invasion of privacy when you willingly give them access by doing something you aren't actually forced to do? 

[HeroofTime55]

You know what will suck the most? If they give you a hair follicle test.

A friend had to do that, went off weed for like 4 months and then cut his hair short.  He was unhappy.

[HeroofTime55]

But you can refuse to take the test. Sure you won't get the job or you'll most likely lose your job if you refuse, but you still can refuse to take it.
So how is it an invasion of privacy when you willingly give them access by doing something you aren't actually forced to do? 

Yeah, no, that's not how it works.  I've already explained how this parallels if an employer tested for homosexuality.  You can't counter with the "it's a choice!" argument - Especially in this economy where it's hard to find a job.

Yes, if the guy robbing me is golding a gun to my head, I can "choose" not to hand over my wallet.  It's not a free choice, there is coercion.  In our argument, there is the coercion of "I need a job so I'm not living on the streets!"

[Boogus Epirus Aurelius]

My firsthand experience with users, going to an intelligent tech school, is that they are responsible people.  Yes, there are irresponsible people out there too, but they're probably not going to even apply for a job in the first place.

You'd be surprised.

No test?  Have you ever seen someone who is high?  There are signals that reveal it, and once you step in company property in your work clothes, you're fair game to be kicked out of the building on the goddamn spot.  As you should be.

Oh, and whether or not they actually are illegal is up for debate, specifically around the question of whether or not the laws are valid.  I know California is at least one state that is butting heads with the federal government on drug policy, and other states are butting heads on other issues.  The States, basically, are fed up with what the Feds are doing.  And this discounts the reality that even the Constitution isn't some universal law, everything is only worth what support the People are willing to throw behind it.  But that's a little abstract from the issue at hand.

I have no problem with recreational drug use. I like pot as much as the next guy down the line and I've done my share of experimentation with other things.

And obviously there are glaring signs when someone is high on the job, but what I was getting at was the fact that with drug testing, especially post-incident ones, there's official documentation of that taking place, allowing employers to take action without fearing some bullshit repercussions.

In the case of the guy that destroyed the back end of someone's vehicle with a forklift, he was tested immediately afterward, tested positive for Hydrocodone and was promptly fired.

Yeah, no, that's not how it works.  I've already explained how this parallels if an employer tested for homosexuality.  You can't counter with the "it's a choice!" argument - Especially in this economy where it's hard to find a job.

Yes, if the guy robbing me is golding a gun to my head, I can "choose" not to hand over my wallet.  It's not a free choice, there is coercion.  In our argument, there is the coercion of "I need a job so I'm not living on the streets!"

And that's entirely skewing the context of things. You put anything in there and twist it enough to make it fit.

If the government came knocking at your door occasionally to test you, that's an invasion of privacy.
If you willfully submit to one for possible employment when you don't have to, that's not.

There's not much else to say here, poncho.

[strongbad]

Regardless, if you're a responsible user, you can just stop smoking the beers or using for a few weeks until you get the fucking job. Don't treat this like it's some massive abuse against people's rights, because it isn't.

I agree with this partially, but I didn't have enough time prior to the drug test to detox myself. And I agree that some drugs, when used recreationally, should be of concern to the employer, but not cannabis.

Also I have my interview tomorrow and he said nothing about a drug test. Should I prepare myself regardless? Or are they obligated to tell you ahead of time?

[Boogus Epirus Aurelius]

Also I have my interview tomorrow and he said nothing about a drug test. Should I prepare myself regardless? Or are they obligated to tell you ahead of time?

If it's a first interview, it's not likely that they're going to do anything like that.
My last job, a week after the interview they called and said I had the job. Got tested that day.
Never heard about anyone getting tested the same day as the interview, unless they really need someone right away.

[applesauce]

Yeah, no, that's not how it works.  I've already explained how this parallels if an employer tested for homosexuality.  You can't counter with the "it's a choice!" argument - Especially in this economy where it's hard to find a job.

Yes, if the guy robbing me is golding a gun to my head, I can "choose" not to hand over my wallet.  It's not a free choice, there is coercion.  In our argument, there is the coercion of "I need a job so I'm not living on the streets!"

You do realize that you can choose not to smoke pot, right?

[YPrrrr]

WTF? Where did you work again? 

I worked as a salesman for a contracting company. I think over half of the original employees are in jail now for drug-related charges

Everything from weed to coke to heroin to morphine was done in my time there

[HeroofTime55]

You do realize that you can choose not to SMOKE THE BEERS pot, right?

Just as someone can choose not to slide their dick into another man's asshole.  But that's not the point.

[strongbad]

Well I heard that costco usually does saliva tests, which is good because the THC isn't noticeable after 24-48 hours of not smoking. I smoked yesterday (i was planning on either using someone else's urine or a detox kit) and my interview is tomorrow, so if I get mouth swabbed, I'll hopefully be okay lol

I just got hired at the YMCA for the summer though, so it's not a huge deal if I get this job or not, since if I got this one, I would stay in my college town for most of the summer to work, but now I'll be able to work at home for the entire summer. The only benefit of Costco is the fact that I'd be able to work once school starts.

So yeah it's not the end of the world if I don't get hired since I already have a for sure job for the summer, which is why I'm taking this fairly lightly now.

[Boogus Epirus Aurelius]

Well I heard that costco usually does saliva tests, which is good because the THC isn't noticeable after 24-48 hours of not smoking the beers. I smoked the beers yesterday (i was planning on either using someone else's urine or a detox kit) and my interview is tomorrow, so if I get mouth swabbed, I'll hopefully be okay lol

Blarghghg.

[strongbad]

Blarghghg.

Note the paragraph after that one explaining that the job isn't as important anymore as I already have a solid job secured for the summer.