The U.S. Department of Transportation recently rewarded truck drivers by reducing the number of required drug tests for the first time since 1989 when mandated testing began. Why? It’s pretty simple. And it’s in the code. For the last three years, the positive rate among drivers with Commercial Drivers Licenses has been less than 1%. [...]

“Do you drug test?” I was recently told by the manager of an auto dealership that he is asked this question frequently by job applicants. It's the first question. Employers that don't drug test are employers of choice for those that use illicit drugs. The consequences to companies that don’t test are not always apparent, as [...]

Updating Workplace Policies for Marijuana Legalization The legalization of marijuana in many states — including Illinois — has HR managers scrambling to update their drug policies to deal with marijuana in the workplace. Many policy writers are amending their policies to use phrases like “under the influence of illegal drugs” or “impaired during work [...]

But they are ideal for certain situations. Whether they be drug tests or medical tests, and instant test (aka “rapid” test), is what is called a “screen.” It’s a quick, down-and-dirty check. If you pass, it’s accepted. If you don’t, it needs further testing in a lab. Of course, if it were that simple, [...]

Testing for Marijuana at Work has become a hot topic as more states legalize its use. Many argue that marijuana is just like alcohol, pointing out that alcohol is a bigger problem and yet remains legal. Others claim that what an employee does on their own time shouldn’t matter. Some even dismiss concerns by [...]