Drug Testing of Employees

In the 1980s, the federal government required drug testing from government contractors. Since then, a number of companies have adopted policies regarding drug testing in the workplace.

Companies believe they need to do drug testing to promote a safe and efficient work environment. Others believe it is an invasion of privacy and what a person does at home should have no bearing on employment.

Write a paper addressing the following questions:

Do you think that companies should perform drug testing on employees? Explain your rationale and provide specific examples, where applicable.

Is the safety of employees and overall efficiency of the company or the privacy rights of employees more important? Explain your decision.

If you think drug testing of employees is appropriate, what human resource policies would you put in place to govern the drug testing? Explain.

If you do not think that drug testing is appropriate, what obligations do companies have to make sure proper safety is maintained in the workplace?

3-2 Short Paper