Q&A

What happens if you fail a drug test for employment?

What happens if you fail a drug test for employment?

The fact of you failing a drug test will only be revealed in a ‘reference check’ when HR contacts your previous employers to check if the information you’ve given them is true. While your former employer might not reveal this information, you may be required to disclose it yourself.

When do you need a pre employment drug test?

Pre-employment DOT drug tests are required when someone applies for a safety-sensitive job. This may be the person’s first time working in a DOT-regulated position, or it may be an application for a new position.

Is it legal for an employer to test an employee for drugs?

Assuming your employer is not required to test its non-driving employees for drugs, it could still be allowed to do so by state law. Virtually every state allows employers to test applicants for drug use at the time of hire.

What happens if you fail a drug test on probation?

Unfortunately, the consequences of failing a drug test on probation become more rigid, which depends on the laws of the particular region, on the probation officer involved and how many times a person had failed tests before. For the first time, you may only receive a warning if your probation officer shows some leniency.

What to do if employee failed the drug tests?

If they fail a drug test, they may be referred for treatment, suspended, or removed from the job. However, the private sector and public employers (with 25 or more employees) must “reasonably accommodate” employees who want to seek drug or alcohol abuse treatment.

Can another employer see a failed drug test?

However, the fact that you have failed one employer’s screening does not mean that other employers will necessarily learn about your test results. In fact, in most cases , there are only a few ways that a new employer might discover that you have previously failed a drug test.

What are the penalties for a failed drug test?

The penalty for a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug (PED) is strict and automatic: student-athletes lose one full year of eligibility for the first offense (25 percent of their total eligibility) and are withheld from competition for 365 days from the date of the test.

What to expect during pre-employment drug testing?

A urine test is the most common form of pre employment drug testing. Usually the applicant will be asked to remain at the collection center and drink measured fluids until able to produce a sample. Hair testing is growing in popularity and has been accepted by courts as a legal way to test for drugs.