When you’re performing drug tests for your employees, you want to make the process as clear as possible. You want to be sure your drug test program conveys your concern for the safety and well-being of your employees and your clients. So, to make sure your employee drug testing goes as smoothly as possible, avoid these common mistakes employers make when drug testing employees.

Using DOT Requirements and Compliance

Thanks to organizations such as SAMSHA and The US Department of Transportation, the drug testing process, requirements, and even cut-off levels have become more clearly defined and standardized.

There are many industries that have very specific guidelines that employers and employees must meet to stay compliant with drug testing standards, including the trucking industry, oil and pipeline work, aviation, railroad work, and even the Coast Guard. Two common mistakes employers make when drug testing employees are not knowing whether they need a DOT or non-DOT drug test and not knowing that they may also be required to be signed up with a consortium in the event they do need DOT testing.

This means it is crucial that you review your state’s policies on drug and alcohol testing and devise your own company drug testing policy, which brings us to our next point.

Unclear Policies and Drug Testing Requirements

A large majority of employer-related drug testing is done as a pre-employment drug test. Other employer-related drug tests are more circumstantial. Post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty are all common reasons an employer may require a drug test. The most common mistakes employers make when drug testing employees is that they fail to require drug testing once their staff members have passed the initial pre-employment drug screening.

Often, employers try to cut costs by skipping random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty drug testing.

Realize that your employees are your business. They have access to sensitive information, such as your company and client credit cards, bank statements, and login credentials. They may drive a company vehicle, operate heavy machinery, or have access to dangerous chemicals or prescriptions. We know that additional drug testing will cost more money, but by only requiring pre-employment drug testing, you are leaving a huge gap and liability in your company’s drug test strategy. Realize that adding random drug testing does not have to cost a lot!

Currently, the 2020 DOT random testing rates are fifty percent for drug testing and 10 percent for alcohol for most agencies. However, as long as your company is not regulated by DOT requirements, you can set your random drug testing frequency and cost however you want. The key is for your employees to know that random testing is a possibility.

Unsuitable or Incomplete Drug Tests Programs

You may realize that you are expected to conduct drug and alcohol tests when necessary, but do you know how to do so? Do you have the necessary resources at your disposal?

Getting your company started on a drug test program may seem overwhelming. You most likely have a lot of drug testing questions. What drugs should you test for? Do you need a lab order for the drug test? Are you going to have to talk to your employees about their private prescriptions? Don’t worry—you are not the first company to have these concerns. A drug testing agency can walk you through the process and provide online drug test orders that will ensure efficient and accurate drug test results that you can rely on.