Pearl Products Inc. wants to introduce a drug-testing program within the organization. What are the guidelines the company must follow for implementing a drug-testing program?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Pearl Products Inc. should follow the guidelines suggested below for implementing a drug-testing program:
• Establish a routine, uniform, organizationwide policy for substance abuse and adhere to it in a consistent and nondisciplinary manner.
• Assume employees are drug-free until proven otherwise.
• Make negative test scores a bona fide occupational qualification whenever possible.
• Include testing in uniform preemployment agreements and have them signed by new employees. For existing employees, establish drug tests as a prerequisite to recalls, promotions, and transfers.
• Train supervisors to detect and refer problem employees for testing.
• Use a high-quality type of urinalysis, not just the cheapest method.
• Use monitored laboratories that employ blind testing to ensure the integrity of the testing procedures. Blind testing requires that those performing the tests do not know the identity of those being tested.
• Use appropriate supervision and custody arrangements to ensure that the samples tested are valid.
• Require tested employees to list all legal over-the-counter drugs they are taking at the time of testing.
• Develop and maintain profiles of well-employee urinalysis results that can later be used for comparative purposes.
• Keep all results confidential.