Is random drug testing an invasion of privacy?

Question

I personnally think so. I believe in pre-employment drug testing and post accidental testing, but not random testing. I think it leaves way for discriminating, unfair way to get rid of an employee in an too many employess sitituation.

Answer 1

It is a violation of your 5th, and 9th amendments to the Constitution.

Safety is one thing. If you are suspected, WITH probable cause, of being on drugs in the workplace, then yes...TEST !

Other than that, it is an affront to your rights. Unfortunately, as a conservative, I am pissed that the US Supreme Court allows this.

One more reason to NOT allow corporations to be a law unto themselves, or let politicians spin what is a clear violation of our rights to not be held to scrutiny on this.

Answer 2

While random tests ideally seem like a good way to keep a drug-free work space, in reality the idea is flawed because a lot of times the tests aren't random at all! that's what makes these tests an invasion of privacy.....

Since no one really is regulating private employers adminsitering random tests, these employers can use random tests as a tool, manipluating the "randomness" to weed out (no pun intended) unfavorable employees. Furrthermore, some higher (again no pun intended) employees may be purposely excluded from the tests. Here's another scenario- Can you imagine if you were up for retirement after giving 20 years of service to a company and then suddenly being given a random drug test- it might be an easy way for a company to get out of giving you're pension. Until there are rules that employers cannot bend, so called "random"-testing is unfair to the employee!

Furthermore, random-testing gives an advantage to drug users who take narcotics, heroin and harder drugs as these drugs typically are undetectable after a couple days. While the occasional pot smoker can get busted smoking once in a blue moon.

Here's one more thing to chew on- kind of off-topic but oh well- how the hell does a professional basketball player, who is a role model for children get suspened for a game or 2 for a positive drug test???? while a regular 9-5er trying to support a family, smokes a little weed here and their- gets fired! Oh yeah, that's right, corporations make the laws haha

Answer 3

I do not have a problem with it if there is reason to believe someone is using drugs in an dangerous environment (like construction and heavy equipment or even driving any vehicle). But there should be some limitations on it. Having a Commercial driving license, however should be tested often, because it is not a right to have a driving license. But then, if a person is part of a group health insurance, the group should be allowed to keep drug users out of their insurance. Personal drug use in others doesn't bother me, except if I am affected in regards to my own pocket book or safety concerns...I should be able to be completely unaffected by people doing drugs in the work place...and if their drug use affects anyone in some real way, these people should be fired.

Answer 4

Its certainly not an invasion of privacy when balanced against the potential harm, cost and other damages that may occur when someone under-the-influence causes, or by omission allows to be caused, an accident. I, for one, am glad they conduct random testing, if for nothing else than for my own safety's sake. And if my personal safety and the welfare of my family somehow interferes with some substance abuser's pleasure on the job, that's just too damned bad. And how does firing an employee who is a substance abuser on the job become an unfair act of discrimination anyway? On the contrary, it is a good example of judicious discrimination. If you can't follow the rules of employment, then maybe you should reconsider your actions. This is a clear case of right-thinking vs. wrong-thinking. Better safe than sorry, protect the liability and let the substance abuser(s) go.

Answer 5

No. There are too many cases where people are doing drugs or drinking while working. This causes a danger to themselves and others. Random drug tests help to avoid this. If you are not doing anything wrong, then you should have no objections. It is not discrimination if everyone is tested at some point in time. It is also not discriminatory if it is stated in the hiring policy that random drug testing id done. Basically, when you are hired, you agree to it.

Answer 6

Involuntary drug testing is immoral and an invasion of privacy. We should just get rid of the stupid War on Drugs. It is just a Mercantilist program to permit the drug companies to pawn off artificial versions of the same drugs that cost a fortune (for example, it is perfectly OK to put children on the cocaine clone Ritalin, but somehow anybody who does cocaine needs to go to jail according to the current laws).

Answer 7

I'm all for random drug testing.A lot of places have too much druggies working for them.People like me who don't do drugs can't keep up with them because lets face it,not much people can keep up with a tweeker.So people like me get a hassle for not keeping up with everyone else.Its like pro wrestling.The ones who pump themselves with steroids are the ones who get paid the most,because due to the steroid use they can perform so much better,while the ones who actually work and build muscle the old fashion get paid less.Same thing happens at any other work place.The ones who do meth can work faster,longer and get more done,so they get more credit.While the ones who stay clean put up with a bunch of crap lectures telling them that they need to pick up the pace.I just don't think its right to be punished for not doing drugs.But even worse is that the ones who are doing drugs get rewarded for it.What ever happened to a good old fashion cup of coffee and a cigarette to wake up in the morning? I just don't like the fact that a druggie gets the first shot to move up in this world while the ones who stay clean just get cast away into the shadows.Last time I checked it was suppose to be the other way around.I'm all for drug testing because it will get more drug attics out of these places and give a chance for the ones who really worked hard for it without doing drugs.

By the way there are plenty of places I've seen and worked for that don't have random drug testing.Thats how I know all of this.

Answer 8

right on Man. Your papa was exercising his constitutional right to fredom of mind. I'm not being facetious here. I strongly believe that the Us of A has gotten it's head stuck up it's own ***s on this one. Shame on them. George Washington would be horrified at such an infiringement of human rights and diginity!

Answer 9

I disagree with you. Safety is very important in many industries and drugs can interfere with keeping the work enviroment safe. Random drug testing is a safge and fair wasy to keep everyone on equal grounds. if you are using illegal drugs then you deserve to loose your job

Answer 10

Nope, when you sign your employment contract it is in there. So if you don't want the job then don't sign it and you can have your privacy. There are reasons Employers want to know if you do drugs on your off time. And yes it does affect your work.