Taking employer drug tests has benefits.
Although a drug test generally requires five to 10 minutes for prospective employees to take, professionals tend to focus on the downsides of the tests when they apply for a job. However,employees have advantages when they go through the pre-employment drug screening process.
Lower Insurance Costs
Employers that regularly conduct pre-employment drug screenings experience fewer health crises and worker's compensation claims. This, in turn, can reduce the employer's group insurance costs. As employers' group insurance rates are decreased, employers can pass these savings onto their employees and offer them lower health insurance premiums.
Improved Team Morale
Drug and alcohol usage by employees results in higher incidences of these employees calling in sick to work. Workers with a criminal background who commit crimes after they land a job have to take time away from work to attend court proceedings. Managers and supervisors often ask these employees' colleagues to work longer hours to complete work that the absent employee was assigned to complete. Not only can this result in lowered morale, it also lowers a group's or an entire organization's productivity. When employers require all hiring candidates to submit to pre-employment screenings, they reduce their chances of hiring people who commit criminal acts and leave the company short-handed for longer periods of time. They also lower their chances of hiring drug and alcohol abusers, people who have a higher likelihood of calling out from work due to feeling ill.
Instills Employer Trust
If employers require all hiring candidates to submit to background checks, credit report screenings and drug and alcohol tests, they avoid giving off the impression that they are only targeting certain types of professionals for testing. Employees who submit to pre-screenings and who pass the tests have their employer's confidence that they likely lead a drug-free lifestyle. Their employers are more likely to trust them to count money, work with budgets and handle confidential or classified information. Employees who pass pre-employment drug screenings might also earn their employer's trust to open and close a business location (e.g. restaurant, retail store).
Reduced Accidents
Accidents are reduced when workers remain drug and alcohol free on the job. Employees who work at organizations that conduct widespread pre-employment drug and alcohol screenings have an increased opportunity to work in a safe environment. Also, employees who pass drug and alcohol tests, criminal background checks and credit report pre-screenings are less likely to commit acts of violence on the job. This helps keeps employees safer.
Tags: drug alcohol, pre-employment drug, alcohol tests, background checks, background checks credit, candidates submit
