Do Staffing Agencies Drug Test?

Much like the question of background checks, the issue of workplace or staffing agency drug testing is extremely popular.

The average person who has been working at the same job for years might not be anxious about this, but if you’re on the job hunt, you likely will encounter a drug testing policy.

It’s no longer just warehouse workers, truck drivers, and government employees who are drug tested. In todays workplace environment, professionals are often subjected to taking drug tests and almost all medical staff will have to undergo a drug test.

Therefore, staffing agencies that place people in roles where the companies normally request the drug tests are going to administer these tests.

Of course, the staffing agencies don’t administer the drug tests themselves, but they do tend to set them up. It’s not going to be something that you will have to take on the spot at the agency.

Why Would A Staffing Agency Drug Test?

The main reason a staffing agency would drug test has to do with their client requests. If the company that they are working for does not request a drug test, then the staffing agency isn’t going to run them.

Remember, drug testing costs money. There is no good reason for a staffing agency to do anything that costs them money if they don’t need to.

With background checks, there is a bit of a difference. Staffing agencies need to be concerned about protecting themselves with regards to liability. There is also a good reason to run background checks because it can protect the staffing agencies reputation. If a violent criminal shows up to work as a temp at a job site and robs the employees, then the staffing agency will loose it’s good reputation.

Additionally, if the staffing agency is working with governmental employers as a sub contractor, then odds are that they will be mandated to running drug tests on their staff.

Remember, staffing agencies don’t just run drug tests because they feel like it. They are not being mean, judgmental, or trying to “catch” someone who does recreational drugs.

However, if you are someone who does recreational drugs, realize that more and more companies are drug testing, and many staffing agencies will require drug testing of their temp workers if those workers are going to be onsite somewhere where the employer requires it.

Do Staffing Agencies Drug Test On Site?

Almost never. This is very uncommon. Most of the time staffing agencies do not drug test on site. Remember, unless you are using a swab style drug test, the tests require urine samples or blood work. And that’s not something that is conducive to an office environment.

What happens most of the time is that the staffing agency will set up the temp with an appointment to go to a drug testing center (these are normally outpatient clinics that cater to staffing agencies) and the temp will take the drug test there.

The reason that the worker cannot supply their own drug test is that there is too much concern that the results will be invalid or phony. By setting up the temp worker with a drug screening clinic that the company contracts with, the staffing agency can rest assured that the results they are receiving are not doctored in any way.

It’s important to remember that there are many legal ramifications for people who test positive for drugs while in certain job roles. These roles are normally those that involve children, medical situations, or governmental roles.

So, the main point here is that you’re almost never going to have to take a drug test onsite at a staffing agencies main location. It will almost always happen elsewhere at another time.

What’s The Policy on Staffing Agency Drug Testing?

The policy on drug testing differs agency to agency. It is important that you spend the time and read the staffing agencies own paperwork.

It will not be a vague statement, it will be very clear. The agency will spell out exactly what their policy is. They cannot just test you without your consent.

Also, if you do decline a drug testing role, you must remember that the temp agency can decline to place you in a job. That is their prerogative. Unfortunately, when you’re working through a staffing agency as a temporary worker, you do not enjoy the same privileges and benefits that you would when you’re working with a full time job with a union.

Temp agencies exist often times because the main client company does not want to offer benefits, job protection, and insurance to their employees. So what they do is outsource this to a temp agency so that the person will simply be a hired hand, in so many words.

It’s also important that you understand that employer drug testing is not something that is controlled by the federal government. It’s more of a state by state issue. For instance, New Jersey will have very different drug testing laws than Nevada. Here’s a list of some of the different states and their regulations on employer mandated drug laws.

Will You Be Notified Before You Have To Drug Test?

Certainly. In any situation where you are required to take a drug test you will be notified beforehand. Much of this has to do with the logistics of the drug testing itself. The temp agency doesn’t just set you up to take a drug test without giving you prior knowledge. That wouldn’t work.

You will be notified about the drug test in advance. This is because in most cases it is located in an entirely separate building and location. Most temp agencies have the ability to process background checks by themselves, though many outsource this task to independent companies that are located overseas. However, no temp agency is going to be setup to run a drug test on its applicants.

Should You Ask if a Staffing Agency Drug Tests?

I would advise against it. For a few reasons.

First, if you come right out and ask if an agnecy drug tests, your recruiter will automatically think that you are someone who takes drugs. And this will create a problem with you getting work from them.

Secondly, even if they do drug test, they might not necessarily drug test for all applicants. It might only be for those people who would be working for a hospital, school, or other facility where there is a prerequisite to take a drug test. And if you are not applying for those jobs it’s not relevant.

Lastly, the information will be provided to you and you can always decline to take a test. Wait until you come to that issue instead of brining it up to people ahead of time. You are only going to cause yourself problems if you ask them beforehand if you are going to have to take a drug test.