Hey...Clock

[Jack]

The trouble with drug testing is that you can take a whole bunch of hard working, loyal employees and instill a real screw you attitude towards management into them.  I saw that exact thing happen at one place I worked.  They had a shop full of young guys who, like any group of young guys, liked to do their share of partying.  They also tended to be extremely good workers.  Then they started with the drug testing, and the sexual harassment training seminars, and all that other crap.  Within a year most of the really good employees had left.  They could have gotten more money from other places at any time, but they had been loyal to the company for years, but that was all gone.  The older employees didn't care, they didn't do drugs or flirt with anybody.  They also worked at a snail's pace. 

[Raffine]

Maybe they would ask for a sample of hair from someplace else 

Unless they shave... never mind.

[clockworkcanary]

Thanks for the congrats all!  I appreciate it.

I know some guys who work in a small factory where they threaten to do company-wide drug testing; and if they did, they'd loose 90% of their work force. 

The drug argument is a tricky one.  There's a big difference between a person drugged up all the time and those who smoke a joint once a weekend.  Since I quit everything a long time ago, it doesn't really apply to me, but I don't think it's fair that Mr. Smokey gets nailed for smoking once 3 weeks prior than say opposed to Mr. Alchy who comes in hung over almost daily and doesn't have to worry about it.  I've worked in factories with guys who drank right at their machines!  They never had to worry about any test.  Hell, I'm related to a totally anti-drug guy who's drunk almost all the time.  Go figure.

Point is, it's not all that consistent.  Alcohol is a drug too, and while I do have a drink now and then, it's still a drug, even if it's a socially accepted one.  I really don't know which is worse; a drug like pot that affects the cerebrum (and thus, mood), or one like alcohol that affects the cerabellum (motor controls, judgement, etc.,).  All I know is I don't think anyone wants to work with a coke, meth, or PCP user for sure.  The worst thing about it, those harder drugs leave the system faster while pot users are stuck with it in their bodies for a month or more. 

But let's call a spade a spade; all drugs, legal or not, do tamper around with one's brain chemistry -not something anyone should be doing on a frequent basis.

I understand having a hair test for the harder drugs.  I also understand any amount of drug testing for critical safety jobs and the like.  What I do not understand is all the scrutizing drug tests for writing jobs.  Do they worry we might get a nasty papercut? hehe.  In all seriousness though, I understand not wanting a drug-addicted employee ...totally.  Problem is, our society is rather addicted to all sorts of medications and over the counter drugs of all kinds.

I myself have become quite addicted to coffee, but the way I see it, it's a great trade up for being addicted to any other drugs like nicotine.  Speaking of which, besides the occassional cigar, I quite smoking cigarrettes 2 years and 3 months ago!  One of the best decisions I've ever made.

Anyway, I'm still waiting to hear back from the hair test, credit checks, and background checks, but I'm rather optimistic about it since i have nothing to hide.  I just can't wait to get back to work.

PS: Meant to mention this before: if you shave your head, they can take a hair sample from other areas of your body...and those other hairs grow slower so they'll technically go back further in time.

[Trevor]

Hell, I'm related to a totally anti-drug guy who's drunk almost all the time.  Go figure.