Drug tested at the first interview

[Nikia]

When I went for an interview this past week, I interviewed with a few different people. Then I had to pee in a cup. If I pass the drug test and they like me, there is a second round of interviews.
I haven't heard if I passed the drug test even though I was supposed to have heard by now. They specifically told me that I would hear from them either way. I have no idea if I would pass the drug test or not. It had been 11 days since I smoked a small amount of pot and I had been smoking a couple times per week. I had an illness that may or may not have affected things as I had not been eating for about 2 weeks, drank lots of fluids once I was keeping them down, and did lose lots of weight. I had no idea that I would be drug tested that day. I did drink more water that afternoon than usual and really had to go to the bathroom after 2 hours of interviewing. I did take a variety of OTC and prescription drugs during my illness which may or may or show up as anything. I also have heard that sometimes they test for concentration of certain chemicals in urine to make sure that it is not overdiluted and is real urine and wonder if I would have a high enough concentration of these since I had not been eating for for so long and hadn't eaten any meat or protein rich food at the time I had the test taken.
Whether or not I pass the test, I do have a couple concerns with them doing a test at that point in the interview. If I would test positive because of drugs I took during my illness or another drug that I was prescribed, I would have to tell them about that. If they use GC testing, I suppose that they can distinguish the various drugs specifically without asking me about it. If I tested positive for something like Xananx, I would have to tell that I have a prescription. If I test over diluted because I don't have enough nutrients in my urine, I have to tell them about it too. In both cases, the company would learn something about my health before they decided on a second interview. Furthermore, I can't really know for sure that they aren't doing other health screens on my sample either.
In the past, any drug test that I have been subject to or would be subject to came after I was assured that I'd get the job if I tested negative. I suppose that I can see why they did it early as it was a complete suprise and would save them a second round of interviews for the ineligble. Aren't they opening themselves up to discriminating aginst people because of their health or non job related disablilty? Are there many other companies that drug test early in the process?

[madrchsod]

1. you should never ever consider

working for a company that drug tests you before you are given an offer of employment. they have not right to ask you for anything like this until they offer you that. . you should never tell anyone about the medicine you take but the person who is administering the test-they will write that on your sample. there is a huge invasion of medical privacy issue-if these people violate it before hiring you ,god only knows what they will do with it after you were hired.
i just spent 15 some hours going over the drug test and medical privacy issues last week for some people at the place i work at. believe me you do not want to work for people who so blalantly violate your rights.
if you want go to the office of civil rights website-federal and check the wisconsin`s office website concerning medical disclosure rules and regulations-but don`t spend 15 yours like i did!

[SHRED]

3. Hey rchsod

I like your icon!

:toast:

[Nikia]

8. I did think that is was unusual to be tested then

I thought so at the time. I didn't say anything to them about it then because I was suprised by the test and I thought that saying anything would make me appear suspicious.
Maybe you are right that things would only get worse after being hired. I did have a former superviser who non specifically told me that particuliar business wasn't a good business to work for. I applied anyway though because I want a better job without having to move. The company is large with room for advancement, close to home, has tuition reimbursement, and health insurance starting on the first day of employment. Sometimes though companies that have good benefits and/or pay, do abuse their employees more because they know that they have those things to encourage employees to stay.
I'll check out Wisconsin law regarding this as you suggested.

[SHRED]

11. Check also

Medical disclosure laws.

Good luck!

[SHRED]

2. That is bull$hit

You are not even hired yet and they test?!

:wtf:

I hate these Nazis testing us anyway but before an offer of employment is full on fascist behavior, IMHO.
F those bastards. This should be an indicator of how shitty your working conditions would be if hired.

[rocktivity]

4. I don't know why they tested you before they decided to hire you

I've had to take three drug tests, but each one was after I'd been offered the job. Seems like a waste of company money to me.

Didn't they ask you if you used a perscription, or had taken any non-perscription drugs lately? That would have given you the opportunity to tell them about your cold. And I wouldn't worry about the pot if it's been eleven days. The test for THC is so accurate, it's self-defeating. After eleven days, the amount of THC in your system would be so small, there's no way prove you inhaled or ingested it.

There was an Olypmic snowboarder who temporarily lost his medal when a very small amount of THC was found in his blood. It was temporary because he said it was most likely the result of a contact high at his sendoff party, and the Olympics had to give him the benefit of the doubt.

:headbang:
rocknation

[HEyHEY]

5. You don't wanna work for them

My body fluids are my own business. Tell them you wanna THEM to take a drug test before you take the chance of working for them.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

6. That is not terribly uncommon. I've been through it a couple of times.

It sounds like they are very, very, very serious about only hiring non-drug users. As a drug user, you probably don't want to work for them anyway. :shrug:

[kimchi]

7. You'll probably pass.

A small amount of any of the chemicals they test for will show up as "background noise" according to a chemist friend I consulted before my drug test. I had to take it over because my urine was diluted with water-but I passed.

I agree with the other poster who said don't work for a company that drug tests you during the interview process. Screw 'em.

[Misunderestimator]

9. Never heard of such a thing... It's always AFTER they HIRE you, or...

at least a contingency of the offer, but the offer is already made. I've never heard of a company requiring that during the interview process. :wtf:

[bearfan454]

10. I heard pot stays 30 days.

I hope I'm wrong for your sake Nikia. GNC has some pills you can buy.
You just have to ask for them to CLEANSE your system. Only say cleanse.

[Nikia]

12. I would have been more prepared if I had any clue

I even have 2 OTC home pot tests sitting in my closet that I bought months ago in anticipation of a post offer test for a job in which the interview process had been going well, but ended up not turning out. After abstaining for a while, I would test myself to see if I needed any extra help passing the test. My husband said that I could have tested myself after the test, but I figured that there is nothing I can do after the test anyway. Since it has been a few days since I took the test, testing negative at this point does not mean anything.
Pot is stored in fat which is why it can show up for quite a while after consumption. Some people clear THC metabolites faster than others. Since I was eating virtually nothing and dropped 10 pounds, at least some of which was fat since I am noticably skinnier, I figure that I was clearing the metabolites faster than normal eating people would during my unintentional fast.

[BlueHandDuo]

13. Actually, when you lose fat...

...all kinds of substances are released into the bloodstream from storage. A test might indicate that you'd partaken more recently than you actually did.

[miss_kitty]

14. i will never work in a job that requires pee testing, at any point

even though i could pass the test. if they were testing because i smelled of alcohol or was acting drugged up, that's one thing...but to say we don't trust you at the outset? why am i here?

it's invasive. and offensive to me.

[kodi]

15. Don't let anyone sap your precious bodily fluids.