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Drug Testing

Many employers require their employees to submit to drug testing both before and after being hired. Most of the time after being hired an employer requires reasonable suspicion before having an employee take a drug test. Even with the recent legalization of marijuana in some states, employees in those states can still be punished for testing positive. The punishments for a failed drug test can include rehabilitation, termination, and losing unemployment benefits. To learn more about drug testing and the workplace, read below:

1. Can my employer legally require me to take a drug test?

2. Can I be tested and fired for marijuana in a state where it’s legal?

3. Due to a recent injury outside of work, my doctor has prescribed me painkillers and I am taking them according to my doctor’s instructions. My employer has regular, random drug testing. Can I be fired for taking prescription medication under doctor’s orders if it shows up on a drug test?

4. I’m applying for a job and my employer wants to give me a drug test. Is that legal?

5. My employer has a policy that I can be tested if he/she has reasonable suspicion that I am taking drugs. Is that legal?

6. What does having a “reasonable suspicion” to test for drugs mean?

7. Can my employer randomly test me for drugs without having reasonable suspicion?

8. I was involved in an accident and my employer wants me to undergo a drug test, is that legal?

9. I’m involved in a counseling or rehabilitation program for drug use through an employment assistance program (EAP). Can my employer still test me for drugs?

10. How do employers test for drugs?

11. My employer wants me to undergo a drug test and requires that someone watch me while I urinate. Is that legal?

12. If I test positive on a drug test, what kind of action can my employer take?

13. Can I lose my unemployment benefits for failing a drug test or refusing to take one?

14. I’ve been called in on short notice and I’m afraid I won’t pass the drug test. How long will drugs stay in my system?

15. I tested positive for marijuana use and my employer wants to fire me, but I know that other employees also tested positive but weren’t fired. What can I do?

16. I tested positive for drugs but I think the test was inaccurate. Can I challenge the accuracy of the test?

1. Can my employer legally require me to take a drug test?

Yes. Federal, state and private employees are all subject to drug testing.

Many federal employees, such as those who handle classified information, those who work in national security, law enforcement officers, employees with duties to protect property, life, health and safety, and even the President are subject to drug testing . The Supreme Court has ruled that while drug testing does infringe on an employee’s privacy, it may be necessary in order to protect the health and safety of others .

Most state laws are similar to federal laws and generally maintain the legality of drug testing for state employees. Certain states, like as California, have said that while it is legal to give drug tests to any incoming employees, there must be cause to test current employees.Additionally, California requires that drug testing is justified in only very limited and strictly defined circumstances.

Many private employers require that their employees undergo drug testing. State and local laws vary in the way that they protect private employees’ privacy. In many states and localities private employers may test employees for health and safety reasons, to increase productivity in the workplace, or to prevent illegal activities in the work place that derive from drug-related activity .

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2. Can I be tested and fired for marijuana in a state where it’s legal?

Yes, you can be tested. Arizona and Delaware provide protection against any punishment for medical marijuana users that are not impaired on the job, but not for recreational users. Other states do not provide any such protection. Even a Colorado court recently ruled that employees can be fired for medical marijuana use. Additionally, since marijuana is still illegal under federal law, federal employers and companies with federal contracts in any state can terminate an employee for testing positive for marijuana. Due to the rapidly changing nature of this area of law, and the differences between states, it is best to seek advice from an attorney in your area if you have questions or concerns.

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3. Due to a recent injury outside of work, my doctor has prescribed me painkillers and I am taking them according to my doctor’s instructions. My employer has regular, random drug testing. Can I be fired for taking prescription medication under doctor’s orders if it shows up on a drug test?

In that situation you may be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the ADA, an employer cannot discriminate on the basis of disability. However, if over time the disability no longer exists, if the medication is interfering with your ability to perform essential job functions with reasonable accommodations, or if you are taking the medication illegally, then you can be fired.

For more information on disabilities and the workplace, such as what is considered a disability and what constitutes an essential job function, please visit our disability discrimination page.

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4. I’m applying for a job and my employer wants to give me a drug test. Is that legal?

Yes. In most cases, an employee seeking first-time employment can be tested as a condition of employment, even if there is no cause or reason to believe that the prospective employee has been taking drugs. The employer, however, must test all incoming employees for drugs and may not single you out for special treatment.

Some states have imposed limitations on pre-employment drug testing. For example, California allows a drug test only after the applicant has received an offer of employment conditioned on passing the test. In other states,employers that drug test are required to provide written notice or indicate in their job postings that testing is required.

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5. My employer has a policy that I can be tested if he/she has “reasonable suspicion” that I am taking drugs. Is that legal?

Yes. Just like incoming applicants can be tested for drugs, so can existing employees. The only difference is, in most cases, your employer must have reasonable suspicion that you have been taking drugs before you can be tested.

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6. What does having a “reasonable suspicion” to test for drugs mean?

Reasonable suspicion means that the employer has a legitimate reason, based on logic and facts, to believe that you have been taking drugs, and isn’t just guessing, speculating or discriminating against you. Reasonable suspicion can be different in different circumstances. Examples of reasonable suspicion include but are not limited to:

  • Direct observation of drug use or physical symptoms of drug use (slurred speech, uncoordinated movement, etc.).
  • Abnormal conduct.
  • A report from a reliable source that an employee is using drugs.
  • Evidence that an employee has tampered with his/her drug results.
  • Erratic behavior while at work or significant deterioration in work performance.
  • Evidence that the employee has used, possessed, sold, solicited, or transferred drugs while working or at work.

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7. Can my employer randomly test me for drugs without having reasonable suspicion?

It depends. Many states require that there must be reasonable suspicion in order to test an employee, and employers that have not complied with this requirement have been successfully sued. However, state laws vary, and in some states, private employers are permitted to randomly test their employees, even without reasonable suspicion, as long as advance notice is given . Courts have generally held that no suspicion is needed to randomly test current employees in jobs that pose a serious risk of human injury or property damage.

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8. I was involved in an accident and my employer wants me to undergo a drug test, is that legal?

Yes. Federal law permits employers to test for drugs during accident investigations . Although state laws vary, in most states, it is legal to test employees for drugs following a workplace accident. Because your employer may be held liable for injuries or damage caused as a result of your accident at work, the law allows the employer to drug test you to find out if the accident was a result of your prohibited conduct, thereby protecting the employer from liability.

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9. I’m involved in a counseling or rehabilitation program for drug use through an employment assistance program (EAP). Can my employer still test me for drugs?

Yes. Even though you are undergoing rehabilitation, your employer still has the right to test you for drugs to make sure that you are complying with the program .

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10. How do employers test for drugs?

Urine is the most common specimen used to test for drugs, but blood, breath, or other specimens can be used as well. Hair may also be used to test for drugs. Hair testing is growing in popularity and has been accepted by courts as a permissible way to test for drugs. Drug residue remains in hair for a much longer period of time than it does in urine or blood.

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11. My employer wants me to undergo a drug test and requires that someone watch me while I urinate. Is that legal?

Usually not. A number of courts have found it to be an unfair invasion of privacy to watch employees urinate. However, most courts have held that it is reasonable to enforce other safeguards that protect against tampering with urine specimens. Examples include: listening to an employee urinate, the dying of toilet water, requiring employees to wear hospital gowns, and checking the temperature of urine.

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12. If I test positive on a drug test, what kind of action can my employer take?

If you are a federal employee, Executive Order 12,564 requires that action be taken if you test positive for a drug test . You will be referred to an employee assistance program (EAP), and you must comply with the program’s rules and cease future drug use, or else you will be subject to termination.

State and private employers have their own policies if you test positive for drugs, and these often include mandatory rehabilitation, firing, or not being hired for the position in the first place. While some employers choose to do so, a private employer is not required to allow you to complete rehabilitation or give you a second chance before firing you for drug use.

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13. Can I lose my unemployment benefits for failing a drug test or refusing to take one?

It depends on the state, but generally if the state allows for drug testing they can deny unemployment benefits for a failed or refused drug test. Some states do allow you to get your benefits if you are still unemployed after a set period of time.

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14. I’ve been called in on short notice and I’m afraid I won’t pass the drug test. How long will drugs stay in my system?

The amount of time a drug can be detected in your system varies widely not only between drugs but between people. Some drugs leave the system within a few hours while others can be detected for weeks after entering your system, like THC from marijuana by a frequent user.

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15. I tested positive for marijuana use and my employer wants to fire me, but I know that other employees also tested positive but weren’t fired. What can I do?

Although employers are not necessarily required to treat their employees fairly and equally, the failure to do so may subject your employer to a discrimination lawsuit if certain types of employees are treated differently. Check with your state department of labor, or a private attorney, for more information to help you determine whether you may be able to bring a discrimination case. If you are a member of a union, you also may be able to file a grievance over your termination.

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16. I tested positive for drugs but I think the test was inaccurate. Can I challenge the accuracy of the test?

State laws vary as to what action you can take. However, there are some methods of recourse that may help you challenge the results. If you are a member of a union, you may be able to file a grievance over your termination that challenges the accuracy of the test. You may check with your state department of labor, a private attorney, or contact one of the following advocates for help and information:

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© 2015 Workplace Fairnesstt