Why do so many companies do drug testing?

Question

and why is it mostly for low-skilled jobs? Are doctors required to do drug tests? Lawyers? Why is it important for a factory worker to be drug tested, but not a lawyer? What about cops?
Are they tested? I am not arguing for increased drug testing!
Why test ANYONE for drugs. Airline pilots, other jobs that require extreme alertness. Truck drivers I can understand.
But for many jobs, smoking a little marijuana should not be a deal breaker. Note that I do not use drugs of any kind and barely drink. But ... I am not opposed to drug use if done in moderation.

Answer 1

you have to be a CEO to avoid any testing

Answer 2

No one wants some hop-head on the payroll. A person who uses drugs is not a responsible employee. Someone who breaks the law is not to be trusted.

A professional in private practice, like a doctor or lawyer, own their own business.

And it is NOT just low-skilled workers who get tested. Most major companies have drug-testing policies including the company I worked for before retirement. It was the "largest travel company in the world" and also the largest dispenser of credit cards.

ALL of their employees were subject to drug testing from the top on down.

While you might think moderate use of drugs in OK, it is still against the law. People who break the law don't make good employees.

Answer 3

Low skilled jobs are usually the more dangerous. They don't want their people doing these dangerous jobs while on drugs cause it might have a lot to do with their getting killed and if they get killed, it would look bad on the company and the insurance for those companies would go up high if they didn't drug test.

Answer 4

It is a liability issue.

Insurance companies can demonstrate numbers indicating many accidents and or injuries in which the use of illegal drugs in the work place is a factor. They need not demonstrate a causal relationship. Since the drug use is illegal already, it is simply one more 'out' they can use to reduce or deny a claim.

PS: One group who should be tested but will never be tested is congress. They like to advocate testing for everyone but themselves.

Answer 5

The reason is LIABILITY. Airlines pilots are tested for drugs, btw. So are the police. It is mostly for low skilled jobs because those companies can't afford more expensive insurance, so they get rid of the problem before it becomes one.

Answer 6

Factory workers operate machinery that is dangerous if you aren't alert. The fact that there are many recreational drug users makes it necessary for those who run the factorys to be sure that their employees aren't going to get hurt by someone who is inattentive due to drug use.

Answer 7

I don't know about you, but if I worked in a plant with a machine that could cut my fingers off or crush me, I wouldn't want the guy working with me to me to be stoned or impaired in any way. If I was the plant manager, or the owner of the company, I wouldn't want that liability.

Answer 8

why - because their is a liability associated with it. would you want the person who is in a factory high? cops are drug tested - - Lawyers probably should be forced to smoke marijuana - it would probably make them more honest...
smoking marijuana impairs your judgement.

Answer 9

Maybe you should be a factory, not drug test, then when someone gets hurt, and sues you, you will be empathetic

Answer 10

well for me, I have never believed it's anyones business what I do at home as long as I don't go to work high or get high while on the road