Pre-employment drug screening Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   8/22/2017 10:08 AM

   I've never had to require temporary, seasonal employees to take a pre-employment drug screen in 30 years. That has all changed now.
   
   For those that do pre-employment drug screening, has it been a benefit to the operation? Have you noticed a reduced pool of candidates? The bottom line is I need bodies to get the job done and even without screening its nearly impossible to get enough staff each season. I can see a scenario where a lot of our college students go to Colorado one Friday afternoon and two weeks later try to pass our drug screening. With my luck that will probably happen to my best, most competent employees.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/22/2017 2:08 PM

   Ron,
   
   We test pre-employment with all candidates. Yes, this does reduce the pool of potential hires. I'm not sure by how much, but if I had to guess I'd say 1/10 don't make it.
   
   Of course we also have a pretty stringent pre-employment background check that weeds out the other 9/10. Hence why we currently have 40+ openings for entry-level golf and landscaping positions.

   
   
   
   
3. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   8/23/2017 4:08 AM

   Who is it that mandates the testing? Is this a state thing or just a company policy?. I too would lose many of my star employees if that were to happen

   
   
   
   
4. Anthony Nysse

   

   1 posts
   
   8/23/2017 5:08 AM

   Andy Jorgensen said: Ron,
   
   We test pre-employment with all candidates. Yes, this does reduce the pool of potential hires. I'm not sure by how much, but if I had to guess I'd say 1/10 don't make it.
   
   Of course we also have a pretty stringent pre-employment background check that weeds out the other 9/10. Hence why we currently have 40+ openings for entry-level golf and landscaping positions.

   
   
   
   You saved me a few minutes of typing my response....

   
   
   
   
5. Kenneth Ingram

   

   18 posts
   
   8/23/2017 7:08 AM

   I had 8 interns this summer and 2 of them had to take pre-employment drug tests. We had a team compete at the Planet Student Career Days at Colorado State a couple of years ago and none of them would have passed a test afterwards. Kenneth Ingram, UMD.

   
   
   
   
6. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   8/23/2017 8:08 AM

   Kenneth Ingram, CGCS said: I had 8 interns this summer and 2 of them had to take pre-employment drug tests. We had a team compete at the Planet Student Career Days at Colorado State a couple of years ago and none of them would have passed a test afterwards. Kenneth Ingram, UMD.

   
   
   Why would not all 8 interns have to take the test?

   
   
   
   
7. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   8/23/2017 9:08 AM

   Larry Allan said: Who is it that mandates the testing? Is this a state thing or just a company policy?. I too would lose many of my star employees if that were to happen

   
   
   Beats the hell out me, Red. Policies tend to be like tomato seeds around here. You never really can get your finger on them before they change. This came from H.R. I mentioned this change to one of my retired guys. He was a successful business man, retired at 55, shows up to work everyday, never complains, gets what we are doing, operates equipment perfectly. His response to this.."I'm not doing it. Uh uh. No way. Sorry. Never!!!" He would have to be tested if he doesn't work for more than 90 in a row."

   
   
   
   
8. Brian Nettz

   

   0 posts
   
   8/23/2017 10:08 AM

   We have done pre-employment drug screens and background checks here for years. Yes, they are a PITA but after all the hassle you do tend to end up with (generally) a better set of employees that show up on time, break less stuff and get along better with other staff.
   
   Brian Nettz
   Presidio Golf Course
   San Francisco

   
   
   
   
9. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   8/23/2017 1:08 PM

   We do pre-employment testing. Starting in 2016 we eliminated Marijuana from the pre-employment screen. It seems like our pool increased. Of Course we still screen for Marijuana when testing for cause. Even though it is legal in Oregon, Marijuana is still illegal on the reservation.

   
   
   
   
10. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    8/24/2017 2:08 PM

    It's a workman's comp thing. Keeps rates low due to less accidents, etc....we do mouth swabs. $15/each.

    
    
    
    
11. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    8/26/2017 6:08 AM

    For the first time in 23 years my whole crew can pass the test! LOL
    
    This is only because one of them is currently mandated by the court to take the test weekly though.LOL and I only have five guys.