employee drug screening
Employers should re-examine drug policies after Massachusetts medical marijuana court ruling
What does this mean for employers? “The implications of this ruling are huge; this is really a watershed decision in Massachusetts,” said Jeffrey Dretler, labor and employment attorney based in Boston, MA. “What it means is essentially it is no longer OK in Massachusetts to have a zero-tolerance drug policy that you apply … without…
Read MoreCalifornians start state petition to legalize marijuana in 2016
petition to legalize marijuana has been approved by the state and advocates are now seeking hundreds of thousands of registered voters’ signatures in order for the controversial measure to appear on the November 2016 ballot. The petition’s language was approved by Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State. If the measure passes, it would legalize marijuana…
Read MoreOregon: drug-testing policies won’t change for state jobs
went into effect at the beginning of July, many state employers have begun releasing memos re-stating their drug policies and reminding employees that nothing is likely to change in those policies. Employers are still allowed to conduct drug tests, and ensure their employees show up for work sober, though some acknowledge that what an employee…
Read MoreColo. Supreme Court: Employment policies trump medical marijuana laws
Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that employers may lawfully terminate employees that fail drug tests due to marijuana usage, even if the drug is only used outside of working hours. The Court determined that zero-tolerance policies trump the legal usage of medical marijuana within the state. The case was brought before the Court by Brandon…
Read More3 ways businesses can benefit from drug testing
see improvements in your company by drug testing, from a former human resources manager and director. Find better workers. When word gets around that your company conducts drug tests, you’re automatically able to screen out potential employees that won’t be able to pass drug tests — because they are less likely to apply for jobs…
Read MoreEmployers continue to question how to handle marijuana legality during drug testing
Alaska officially legalized recreational use of marijuana for citizens that are over the age of 21. However, employers in the state — and in fact, across the country in other states in which recreational or medical cannabis is used — find that they are not sure how to handle employee drug tests when the drug…
Read MoreCould an iPhone app be the newest tool for a pre-employment drug testing service?
When employers conduct pre-employment drug tests or enforce random drug testing, they typically have to hire a drug testing service or work with a local clinic to get results. However, new technologies from healthcare company Scanadu may eventually make pre-employment drug testing as simple as checking your phone. Scanadu has introduced a device that may…
Read MoreDrug-testing device receives government approval in UK, could prevent driving deaths
Northern Ireland’s government has just approved a new drug-testing technology that the country’s Roads Safety Minister hopes will prevent residents from driving under the influence of drugs. The portable device, called Drugwipe, can detect cocaine or marijuana in the body. It utilizes small amounts of saliva, and produces results in eight minutes or fewer. Drugwipe…
Read MoreGeorgia council incentivizes drug testing in the workplace
Recently, the Georgia Council on Alcohol and Drugs hosted an event called “Drugs Don’t Work” in an attempt to discourage illegal drug usage in the workplace, particularly because 70 percent of the state’s illegal drug users can be found among its employed. The most commonly abused drugs? Prescription medications. The Council is now providing incentives…
Read MoreFAA fines SkyWest after airline shared drug-testing issues with the association
Utah-based SkyWest Airlines was fined earlier this month after allegedly informing the Federal Aviation Administration of problems related to its drug testing policies over the previous two years. The FAA fined SkyWest $295,750 for the violations, in accordance with the Department of Transportation’s drug-testing policies. SkyWest allegedly received the fine for three different types of violations:…
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