FYI - Alcoholism is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As an aside, I took the time to read my corporate drug policy and the drug policy of one of our sister companies. There is no drug testing at my company, they handle each incident separately with punishment ranging from a verbal warning to termination depending on the severity of the infraction. At our sister company, drug testing can be used if there is a suspicion of drug use. Additionally, it is explicitly stated that employees are not to engage in illegal drug use on or off the property. In both cases, alochol is treated as a drug. And as far as the you should be able to smoke a joint on your own time argument, what if you get called in to work just as you're taking the last toke? ------------------ Brought to you by the letter M.
Posted by AhPook: And as far as the you should be able to smoke a joint on your own time argument, what if you get called in to work just as you're taking the last toke? Don't employees know when they are "on call?" If you're doing anything that could affect your job performance when you are on call, then that is your own problem. ------------------ Hey, I've got a new signature! 302
Like I've stated, mar1juana and other drugs should not be treated the same. When people start getting laid off because of mar1juana use on their own time, then something really needs to be done about the legalization of a relativley harmless drug. ------------------ When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of yourself and umption. visit www.swirve.com
I was going to keep my mouth shut in this thread, but I just can't. When does it stop? First its testing for Drugs and financial background. Next it will be DNA testing to see who might be susceptible to heart disease or a predilection to addiction. People are missing the big picture. This is a war on civil rights. I have a right to live my life the way I want to. My employer has no right to infringe on that right. What if I'm an employee who has never missed a day of work in 10 years, my production is impeccable, I am amiable and fun to be around? Do I deserve to lose my job based on some infringement of my personal life? ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
mc mark, I'm guessing that if you had been the employee you described, then tested positive for drugs, they probably wouldn't fire you. It is in a company's best interest to make sure that there is a minimal amount of distractions to their employee's workday. A drug addiction might be a distraction. ------------------ When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of yourself and umption. visit www.swirve.com
Lynus 302, yeah normally people know when they are on call, when there is a formal on call procedure, but there are a number of situations where you might get called in anyway. If you are the only one that knows how to do something ... If you are a programmer and you wrote something and it broke ... If a client flies into town and you are expected to take them to dinner ... If everyone's called in sick and the boss is in a pinch ... I'm not saying your company should own you, but it's not impossible that you could be expected to perform above and beyond what your job description says. ------------------ Brought to you by the letter M.
A drug addiction might be a distraction. Key word here is "might". You can't just assume that it will. This is a problem, as I see it, of putting the cart before the horse (or something like that). There are plenty of people who do drugs and you'd never know it - they lead perfectly normal, productive lives. Randomly testing and penalizing these people is, as mc mark pointed out, a violation of our civil rights. For that matter, randomly testing people who are clean is an invasion of our right to personal privacy. Where does it stop? How about this scenario... the police show up at your door and say, "there might be criminal activity happening in your neighborhood so, if you would kindly step aside, we're going to search your house." Kind of extreme, but the point is that randomly checking people for criminal activity is a violation of our civil rights. And, really, who's to say that it can't lead to this kind of scenario. If we allow this kind of thing to go on, we open ourselves up to a more oppressive and invasive kind of society. Is that what you guys want? Oh, and AhPook, what if you are drunk when your boss calls you in? Should we not drink in our free time since we might get called in to work unexpectedly? ------------------
The employers' could also look at it from a liablility standpoint. What if people were dealing drugs within the company? I'm not sure that random drug testing is right, but you can't fault companies for wondering whether or not their employees are hooked on heroin or something. Wondering if people are doing something that could affect your job performance, like being addicted to cocaine, isn't violating your civil rights. They're just trying to cover their asses. My suggestion is, if you feel so strongly about this, don't work at a company that performs random drug tests. ------------------ When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of yourself and umption. visit www.swirve.com
Exactly. Everyone has options. Don't b**** and moan about being violated if your company participates in drug testing. Now, if your company has no drug policy and you are unaware of the potential for testing and someone hands you a piss cup, then you've got a right to complain. And to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about random drug testing, but I do think a company has a right to perform tests for suspected drug use. If there is a pattern of behavior, I don't see why they can't rule out certain possiblities. I've also taken an intial drug test before I was hired for a job, and for the most part I don't have a problem with that either. I could have withdrawn my application if it was that offensive to me. So then you may say, well all this drug testing is a possible bar to the good jobs. Well, oh well, those jobs didn't get to be good jobs without the companies protecting their interests by setting certain standards for employees to follow. And ChrisP, I don't care if you drink in your free time. You're the one who'll have to give the excuses to your boss. I'm just pointing out the fact that the whole notion of free time ends up being distorted in a country where we have to work harder, so we can earn more, so we can do more coke. ------------------ Brought to you by the letter M.
I have a friend who has been smoking mar1juana since he was a kid. He is now in his 40's. He never smokes on the job or before work. He is never late. He works long hours. He is one of the best employees they have. Now, if they employed drug testing, he would probably get canned. What exactly is the point? ------------------ Save Our Rockets and Comets SaveOurRockets.com
I used to know a guy who did LSD in his free time and still managed to be successful in his job. What people do in their own time, which has no impact on anyone but themselves, is no business of anyone else's - including their employer. Just to clarify too, I'm not advocating the use of drugs - my whole argument is about the freedom to choose. [This message has been edited by ChrisP (edited October 31, 2000).]
I don't see why a company doesn't have a right to choose what kind of employees it wants. In fact, I think you should just turn in your piss cup every morning when you punch the clock. This thread taxes me. ------------------ Brought to you by the letter M.
Thank Goodness for the Equal Opportunity Employment Act huh ahpook. ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
I will eat all my words and a big helping of crow when drug use is protected by the EEOC. ------------------ Brought to you by the letter M.
This is my problem on RDT(random drug testing) first, its usually not random. They pick a name and say, "good employee, good chance he will be positive, lets put his name back in the hat ... pick again" This is just a tool to rid an employee. Another problem i have is many companies will test a person who has been in an accident on company time. This bull****! If i smoked a doobie 3 weeks earier and I cut my finger off, i get fired because i came up positive. so therefore, they do not have to pay the doctor bills. To me that is bull****. But there is a diffrence if i was under the influnce of a 'controlled' substance. ------------------ its all good and fun till someone gets hurt ... then its absolutely hilarious!
My opinion on this issue as a everyday smoker I think its the companys right and they can do whatever they want you cant say anything about it.I actually would tell them I smoked before I even took the test,why lie? Usually if you just talk to people they will help you its when you lie and try to get away with it using various types of drinks and such is when you get in trouble. I can tell you this all the people out there would be very surprised about how many people actually smoke and if you drink you cant say crap to me!When I say you would be surprised I mean that there are probably people out there smoking that are friends of yours or you may even smoke you just keep it to yourself. Drinking is way worse than weed,actually I recommend everyone smoke it I dont Drink or do any other drugs but I have tried others and IMO Weed is the only drug that you can use everyday without ruining your life Im telling you the truth!When I say drug that including Alcohol I know a lot of people drink and enjoy it but its probably near the top of the list like it or not! ------------------
1 more thing since I accidentally double posted just because you smoke weed doesnt make you a bad person though no matter if you think its wrong or not.It is illegal and I exccept that but you can still be a good person if you smoke! ------------------ [This message has been edited by RENDIGGLER3:20 (edited October 31, 2000).] [This message has been edited by RENDIGGLER3:20 (edited October 31, 2000).]
