IT job without a drug test possible

[Soybomb]

I just finished up my BS and don't have what I think is too terrible job experience. I'm ultimately looking for a network or unix system administrator position. So far I haven't looked too hard and been enjoying my old job and some time off but decided its time to start looking for something a bit better so I can pay off some loans before I go back for another degree. Anyway I live in a rural area so tech jobs aren't everywhere. One of my friends gave me a heads up about a job with a hospital she works at but they require a blood/urine sample for drug testing before employment. I've never even smoked pot so I don't worry about the results but I think thats an invasion of privacy and frankly irrelevant to the job. If it was a job with security clearance needs or using heavy equipment maybe. To restore a raid array and add users to the lan, no.

I partially feel like I'm crazy to turn down a decent job for such a reasonably trivial matter, but I also hate not following my values. I'm just curious what the chances are of getting my dream job in a tech company like google, yahoo, amazon, microsoft, etc is with this thinking. I like to think of tech companies being a little more liberal with employment rules and not being this invasive into someone's personal life, but maybe thats just wishful thinking.

 

[n0cmonkey]

It's not an invasion of privacy, IMO. But I've never had a piss test.

 

[duragezic]

I don't really know but I'm assuming doubtful. Basically, if I want a job after college I'll need to change my habits within a few years!

 

[jtusa]

Me either. Always had to do drug tests for lame retail jobs or whatever, but when I graduated and got a "real" job they didn't make do one, not that it mattered for me anyways.

 

[imported_judge]

don't seee problem with taking the test. These test seem to be standard now, wouldn't be suprised if mc donalds even requires drug test

p.s hospital maybe required by law to require employee to be test becuse they are workign for hospital but this is just a guess don't know the law

 

[cressida]

man just take it .. you need money so go for it.

 

[AreaCode707]

My company (24,000+ people) doesn't drug test any employees except call center folks.

 

[Sundog]

If it was a job with security clearance needs or using heavy equipment maybe. T

Umm...if you have access to the computer network at a hospital then you do need "some sort" of security clearance. Look up the privacy regulation as defined by HIPAA.

Either pee in the cup or don't work there. Simple as that.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Sundog

If it was a job with security clearance needs or using heavy equipment maybe. T

Umm...if you have access to the computer network at a hospital then you do need "some sort" of security clearance. Look up the privacy regulation as defined by HIPAA.

Either pee in the cup or don't work there. Simple as that.

Peeing in the cup isn't necessarily part of a security clearance.

 

[gistech1978]

assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

Why shouldn't people run their companies the way they want to?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Privacy?

They probably have a reason for it, explain your situation to them if you really care that much. Honestly though, just take the darn test, get over it. If a company has two equally good people with only one difference, someone who failed the test and someone who passed, they'll be likely to choose the one who passed because they know he isn't doing anything that could interfere with his work/production

 

[gistech1978]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978
assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

Why shouldn't people run their companies the way they want to?

why shouldnt people run their lives the way they want to?

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: HotChic
My company (24,000+ people) doesn't drug test any employees except call center folks.

Good to know some don't still.

I see the problem as whats in my urine just isn't the company's business. What someone does in their time off work doesn't involve their employer. If you don't bring alcohol problems to work, you're free to use alcohol. If you want to use some other drug and it doesn't come into work, then you should be free to do that. Personally I speed too frequently, should I have a GPS in my car to be sure I'm not breaking that law if my job doesn't involve driving?

I hate to just roll over and agree to it too since I feel like its important to stand up for such things. And of course from the cynical standpoint, the higher ups in the company are already drug users and don't get tested anyway

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Sundog

If it was a job with security clearance needs or using heavy equipment maybe. T

Umm...if you have access to the computer network at a hospital then you do need "some sort" of security clearance. Look up the privacy regulation as defined by HIPAA.

Either pee in the cup or don't work there. Simple as that.

Peeing in the cup isn't necessarily part of a security clearance.

Neither should one's credit history be and yet time and time again it is.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Sundog

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Sundog

If it was a job with security clearance needs or using heavy equipment maybe. T

Umm...if you have access to the computer network at a hospital then you do need "some sort" of security clearance. Look up the privacy regulation as defined by HIPAA.

Either pee in the cup or don't work there. Simple as that.

Peeing in the cup isn't necessarily part of a security clearance.

Neither should one's credit history and yet time and time again it is.

People that are pretty screwed financially are more likely to do something against America/more desperate for money. And really, that doesn't really affect the security clearance application much.

Nor does mental/medical history.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978
assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

Why shouldn't people run their companies the way they want to?

why shouldnt people run their lives the way they want to?

They should. Don't like the policy? Don't work there. Just another "simple" way to run your life your way.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Take the test, pass it, and decline the job because of the test. Yeah, that'll show'em.

 

[notfred]

I work for the US government and they didn't make me take a drug test.

 

[dirtboy]

So they're supposed to hire you and then find out later when you come in high up on drugs and destroy their network that they should have checked to see if you're a drug user.

If you don't like their policies, then don't work there.

Next thing you'll whine about is that it's an invasion of privacy if they want you to prove that you can do the job you're applying for. :roll:

 

[gistech1978]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978
assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

Why shouldn't people run their companies the way they want to?

why shouldnt people run their lives the way they want to?

They should. Don't like the policy? Don't work there. Just another "simple" way to run your life your way.

ah okay
corporate freedoms obviously trump personal ones.
gotcha.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

I don't think it's an invasion of privacy, but can help "weed" out users who could cause problems down the road.

 

[KLin]

I had to do the drug test as part of my background check before I got my IT job. I didn't have anything to hide, and I was working 2 jobs at about 60-65 hours per week. Getting a 40 hour per week job for more money was the #1 priority for me. I didn't care about taking the drug test because I knew I was going to pass.

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978
assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

Why shouldn't people run their companies the way they want to?

why shouldnt people run their lives the way they want to?

They should. Don't like the policy? Don't work there. Just another "simple" way to run your life your way.

Then we need to repeal some laws if the government isn't going to be able to regulate some things about employment. For example my state is very strict about lie detector testing for employees. Gotta get rid of that. There are questions you can't ask on applications or of former employers. I feel like such conditions are used to protect people from some just caving in and giving employers free run.

I just really never cared much for the "if you have nothing to hide you won't mind" thinking.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: gistech1978
assume guilt and prove your innocence.
isnt that how america works?

Why shouldn't people run their companies the way they want to?

why shouldnt people run their lives the way they want to?

They should. Don't like the policy? Don't work there. Just another "simple" way to run your life your way.

ah okay
corporate freedoms obviously trump personal ones.
gotcha.

Seems to be the case