Pre-Employment Hair Testing

[cooz3]

As an Attorney I have some real problems with this especially in Massachusetts where our Declaration of Rights protects us more than the Federal Constitution. Private employers, Mass Transit employees, Truck Drivers, Heavy equipment operator's and thigs of that nature a compelling and persuasive argument can be made that such testing is needed as well as continuous random testing. For an Attorney position, however, I am having a difficult time convincing myself that I should submit to such testing especially in light of the fact that I have been fighting such policies for Union's for six years. Its a dillema that I am dealing with for a prospective Municipal Employer. The hair testing is very invasive as the standard test goes back 3 months while others go back for a year or in some cases beyond. I am not sure at what point the citizens of this country adopted the "if you have nothing to hide the whats the problem philosophy." But I am troubled by this trend to say the least. i dont mean to sound like a liberal because I am mostly a moderate sometime conservative but for a position which does not involve driving, saving lives, or operating machinery I am having a difficult time convincing myself that this is ok.

Further, from the start I have been up front and honest with this employer about every aspect of my life and when I was told about this "requirement" so to speak I was told "Pre employment drug screening is done by all employees." As you can see that does not really answer my inquiry as there are many different types of drug screening tests. i then went with head of Personnel and inquired how long they were doing hair tests and i was told that hair testing has NEVER been done and only urine is required. Thus, I am being used as a precedent and guinea pig in my mind. I asked why I was being singled out and the Mayor stated "this is something we are going to require people to start doing." My first thought is Bullshit and why not be honest with me when I asked.?

i currently have a decent job with excellent perks and benefits and my current employer would NEVER even think about asking anyone to do something like this. The proposed job offers no job security but can be used a BIG step up in legal world in my field.

I am just not sure I want to work for someone who did not seem to be honest with me and is requiring me to do this in the first place.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation and there thoughts.

thanks
cooz

 

[Penguinfan]

When something like this is title "Pre-employment drug testing" everyone assumes it is illegal drugs that are being tested for.

While I am sure that is the case, they are also testing for legal drugs to asses the condition of your health. Insurance companies are asking/requiring this to be done to determine their risk and subsequent costs to the company to provide health care.

I'd say this becomes the standard very soon.

 

[SixFive]

you're really going to have trouble when they start trying to microchip us all too (as will I).

on the surface, this hair testing doesn't bother me, but you could be right that it will lead to other things. Let us know how that works out.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

If push come to shove on it and you didn't want to do it--I'd shave my head and body the day before and walk in and say have at it--of course they would probably be pissed off and ask you at later date again--but they would never have that surprise- look back 6 month window--as you could make any adjustments afterward if job was worth it.