Does running more drug tests equal fewer workers coming to work under the influence? Not necessarily.
So many businesses have spent millions of dollars on drug testing to have all come back negative for years. They were under the impression that all their workers were clean; we came in and ran on-site randoms with trained testers, and their drug use rate of their employees were aligned with those of other companies in their industry—though they had been running the tests, they had been giving their employees too much time running faulty tests with poorly trained testers.
So, what does better drug testing look like? There are four differentiators we’re seeing today.
A trained expert can do it every time, but to a novice and a chemical panel, they both look the same.
Fake urine is showing up everywhere, and even though it’s illegal in Texas, users are purchasing it elsewhere and trying to pass drug tests here in Houston. Iowa and Alabama are looking at making it illegal for sale as well because of the frequency of use. So, how does an expert spot it? Let's get technical--no bubbles, no smell, no go. Our testers know what urine should look like, and we can guarantee you that highlighter yellow is not normal. Also, people act strangely when they're carrying fake urine. If you have an employee who has to go immediately, even on-site, they likely had fake urine in their desk and have warmed it in the microwave. Yep--another reason not to use the break room microwave on your lunch. We've seen it happen hundreds of times.
Better drug testing means better training to stop synthetic urine at the door.
Many companies are still using offsite drug testing. Here’s the problem—your employees have too much time invested in the process and are given the opportunity and time to adapt to the test. When done according to best practices, random drug testing Houston employees is a fair way for employers to increase productivity, lower workers' compensation claims, and reduce absenteeism by encouraging employees to more easily say no to illegal drug use. For randoms:
While drug testing is still optional in many industries, those companies that see the best return on investment are those that use the right test for pre-employment testing, random drug testing, and post-accident drug testing.
In addition, supervisors and managers are also trained in reasonable suspicion so that their drug testing company can perform onsite drug tests when necessary for the safety of the team. A drug testing provider can advise you which test is best for which scenario, including:
While every company can choose the frequency of drug testing, we'd strongly recommend drug testing at least once a quarter, depending on the size of your workforce. This allows you to meet drug testing quotas, if such exist in your industry, and also to create a culture of drug testing in your business. This is the most important aspect of drug testing. Employees know they will be tested, and they often choose not to use or refuse drug testing when their turn comes (and a refusal carries the same consequences as a positive). Your employees will feel the weight of a drug testing culture, and it has been shown time and time again that this is critical. 400 percent ROI on a random on-site drug testing program is possible and regularly achieved by many of our clients.