So I just was able to negotiate being fully remote due to covid for a several-month contract position. Then after all that the recruiter comes back to say okay great now time to schedule you for an in-person drug test.

I'm like hold up. You're drug testing me for a contract position? After I just explained that I'm not willing to take any unnecessary risks due to covid?

I checked the major drug test companies and none have published their COVID guidelines - and why would they? If you're getting drug tested it means you're the scum of the earth and your time, health, and safety doesn't matter.

Now don't get me wrong, I can pass a drug test. To me it's just the principle of doing this for a contract position (number one) during a pandemic (number two). Say I catch it at the facility because they make you wait for two hours and you're not allowed to go outside - symptoms show up a few days later and I don't have any PTO or benefits to use for getting sick and now I'm just in the hole for that time and potential medical cost.

And what's really funny to me is how hard drugs naturally pass through the system in 3 days or less, so a true "dope fiend" (if this caricature even exists in real life) can fairly easily evade a positive screen with a weekend off, while someone just using plant medicine whose metabolites happen to be fat soluble has to either plan a month in advance or drink gallons of green tea to doctor their piss.

It's literally just a racket for alcohol companies and medical testing supply companies

So now I have to tread lightly in the conversation because you know, refusing to take a drug test is a good way to blackball yourself with a company but I legitimately think they're being unreasonable here.

Like do you want me to call people for you or not? This isn't that serious, man

Anyway, stepping off my soapbox for now. I know plenty others who have much deeper issues with structural infringement of their personal liberties but something about how this is just so normalized that it's just seen as a no brainer in this situation really got to me.

I work for a big, nation wide company. But the state that the plant I work in resides has legalized weed. And they pee test for this on entry. And wonder why we are always short staffed.

This part got me lmfao. I've worked in staffing, and I've seen how companies will throw money at fixing a problem they created, often a problem that could be solved by throwing significantly less money in a more productive direction.

Like one time a company wanted us to get some people to work a job with a hard ceiling of $12/hr, in an area with a million other versions of the exact same type of job starting at $15+. They refused to increase their pay scale not because they didn't have the money (because they were using a staffing service with a bill rate of much higher than even $15/hr), but apparently because they just weren't willing to pay people more on sheer principle.

I'm not sure how all that works but I'm pretty sure certain industries have to drug test by law (signed into effect by legislators who receive donations and own shares from medical testing and supply companies, no doubt), and the ones that don't probably get tax incentives for having a "Drug free workplace."

I've come to the conclusion that the modern workplace is simply designed to produce unnecessary suffering. Like the idea of making money for an organization is second to the goal of suffering for the organization.

Just take the drug test then. Pick your fights.


Yeah, companies still screen in fully legal countries (e.g. "safety sensitive" positions in Canada). Probably have less staffing issues if employees could afford to go on regular coke benders like responsible adults. Work hard play hard, right?

I actually did a bit of research and I'm seeing that testing sites in some areas are allowing appointments and waiting in the car after virtual check in. If that is the case at my location then we're good. It's just frustrating cause no one will answer my questions without looking at me sideways first.