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Thank you for clarifying. But I figured that since it happens with so many job candidates, this issue cannot be unique to my company. So there statistically must be lots of people out there who do this. I'd hoped that some of them would offer their reasons. Maybe it's fun? Maybe they are required by Unemployment to apply for jobs and go as far in the process as possible? Maybe they see it as a way of "sticking it to the man"? Maybe they are truly ignorant about how opiates or amphetamines will indeed show up in their urine? I never thought the actual people who were escorted out of my building would respond here, but people like them, who have done similar things.
I'm sure they do, but drug addicts are drug addicts. They might want a job, but they certainly aren't addicted to having one. They want to use drugs more than have a job.
Thank you for clarifying. But I figured that since it happens with so many job candidates, this issue cannot be unique to my company.
We have the same problem where I work. I work at a nuclear power plant and not only do you have to pass a breathalyzer and urine screen tests when hired, you can also be randomly retested at any time. Often when the company hires outside contractors to do projects a good percentage of them can't even pass the drug, integrity, and knowledge tests. The project I was hired for, they had to screen over 400 people before they found 70 that could pass the access requirements to get on a nuclear site.
Don't they screen people on Unemployment for drugs? Maybe they don't, and it's just easier to keep smoking weed and not work?
No, they don't test for unemployment - at least not where I live! And for anyone who thinks it's "easier" to be on UI, that is also a big NO. When I lost my job in 2009, I was earning above the maximum income for benefit calculations, so my "pay" ended up being about half of what I earned previously. Living where I do, that meant being left without enough to even cover the rent, and having to drain my savings account in under 6 months. Add to that the depression and stigma of being unemployed, and the stress of looking for a new job, while knowing those benefits will eventually cease. Yeah, it's a real party.
As for why people fail the pre-employment tests, they either think it won't show up (ignorance as to how long different drugs stay in your system), have other means of support/money so don't care, or they tried a "home remedy" to cleanse which didn't work. Just my guesses! Personally, I've always avoided jobs that test, since I use medical cannabis - but the state is still not firm on allowing exemptions for that, even for those of us with legal cards. Plus, I don't like the idea of working for employers who pry into our personal lives. Of course, in some job fields I completely understand the need, but what I do is not affected by me smoking at night. Luckily it's rare in my area and field, so this hasn't kept me from finding work overall.
No it won't because it is still against federal law to have marijuana and if you get busted on federal property then you can go to jail. I like the way people think they know the law but don't.
Maybe they meant it will be FEDERALLY legal? It probably will be at some point.
And even now, the Feds aren't busting people for using... they only bother the distributors, growers, and cannabis clubs, but that's not happening much either these days. Sure, if you're ON federal property they will bust you; but who does that? Face it, the days of prohibition are quickly coming to an end!
My company does not drug test so folks are pretty open about who "imbibes" and who does not. Without fail, the regular imbibers were the first to show attendance issues. Maybe coincidence, maybe not.
I see the same with tobacco smokers. They seem to think that they are an exception and the rules don't apply to them personally.
I have a couple of rentals and my ads all say "no smokers". My written criteria says "no smokers". My application says "no smokers". I say out loud "no smokers" and I still get about 30% of my applications from people who smoke. About a third of those get really hostile when they are rejected because they are a smoker.
It doesn't make any sense to me, but that's what they do. Maybe the drug users all think that because they don't see anything wrong with what they are doing, that the rules don't really apply to them. Or maybe, they aren't reading anything beyond the job title.
I've known several drug users who set their life goals to just work barely enough to qualify for unemployment, which then qualifies them for food stamps. Once they get their unemployment, they tell me of all sorts of tricks to get job interviews but not to be hired. They don't want a new job until their unemployment runs out.
You are probably seeing both types, OP. Dopers who are sure you don't mean them when you say no drugs and a few that are only applying in order to keep their unemployment check and that don't want a job.
I had an interview last week for a job I have been trying to get for 3 years, yes I knew I had to be drug tested which I thought would be no problem. Well I was wrong. Labcorp does not ask what prescriptions you are taking before you give your sample, I am part of a medically supervised weight loss program and take an appetite suppressant which can produce a false positive on a drug screen showing positive for amphetimine. Two days ago I got a call from my employer wondering if I went for my drug screen, I replied yes, she couldn't understand the delay and wanted to get me started. She told me to call labcorp have them fax results. After calling labcorp, I was told my employer had to call them immediately, I tried to explain about my appt. Supp., they didn't want to listen. (Now I have to call my employer, look like a druggie, which I'm not..I've never touched a drug in my life, have them call labcorp, so they can find out I failed) Needless to say, I haven't heard anything back. I should have had the right to begin with to say what medications I take with a prescription, and my test results should have been explained to me first..not a potential employer! I feel like my rights are totally violated here and now I have lost a job over it! Not everyone who fails a drug test is on drugs! Do some research, you would be surprised! Due to the fact, I turned down two other job offers over this, I will be contacting a lawyer!!
I see the same with tobacco smokers. They seem to think that they are an exception and the rules don't apply to them personally.
I have a couple of rentals and my ads all say "no smokers". My written criteria says "no smokers". My application says "no smokers". I say out loud "no smokers" and I still get about 30% of my applications from people who smoke. About a third of those get really hostile when they are rejected because they are a smoker.
It doesn't make any sense to me, but that's what they do. Maybe the drug users all think that because they don't see anything wrong with what they are doing, that the rules don't really apply to them. Or maybe, they aren't reading anything beyond the job title.
I've known several drug users who set their life goals to just work barely enough to qualify for unemployment, which then qualifies them for food stamps. Once they get their unemployment, they tell me of all sorts of tricks to get job interviews but not to be hired. They don't want a new job until their unemployment runs out.
You are probably seeing both types, OP. Dopers who are sure you don't mean them when you say no drugs and a few that are only applying in order to keep their unemployment check and that don't want a job.
The reason for yours and the OP's experience is simple:
THEY ARE ADDICTS.
You are expecting people addicted to a substance to have the same mindset as you, a non-addict, do. The addiction must be protected. That's first and foremost in the addict's mind. Not, "let me follow the rules" or "I should respect this guy's wishes because it's his property". Plus, addicts become natural liars. The two traits go hand in hand.
If you complain about smoking/won't rent to smokers or don't employ people because they test positive, you are interfering with the protection of the addiction.
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