preemployment physical/drug screen

lamoncha lover · #1 07/31/10, 10:08 AM

hubby finally got a job offer. It would be such a blessing.It is contigent on a pre employment physical.He is prescribed some pretty heavy pain meds. Can this stop him from gettig a job?

the mama · #2 07/31/10, 10:25 AM

If they are prescribed, then they are legal. However if he is on narcotics, then driving, operating heavy equipment and things needing sharp mental acuity will be out of the question. He could stock shelves, maybe run a cash register, data input, etc. Look into the Americans with disabilities Act. and the EOE program

dragonchick · #3 07/31/10, 11:29 AM

Yes it can prevent him from getting the job. If he takes them during work hours he can actually be let go. Pain medication even if prescribed by a doctor can't be taken at work if they can possibly cause any kind of impairment. I would ask the doctor to prescribe something that is more work friendly or learn to do without it.

JuliaAnn · #4 07/31/10, 01:22 PM

Speaking from experience... I have had a legitimate prescription of Valium for over 10 years; 1 mg. dosage, 1x a day, at night, as well as a couple of other, non-narcotic prescriptions. I worked as freight receiver/warehouse manager of a large retailer for a few years, even ran the forklift and unloaded freight, and never had a problem, and yes, my employer and HR knew about my prescriptions. It never became an issue, even with my drug pre-screen.

As far as I was told by my physician, if it is a legitimate prescription for a legitimate medical condition, a prospective employer can't automatically reject your application. HOWEVER, the employer CAN limit what job they put you in, as mentioned, for example heavy machinery, driving, etc.

But I have also known people who were rejected for 'other reasons' that seemed to be disingenuine. I, myself, concluded that the company rejected them for having a legitimate prescription of meds, but couldn't say that so they came up with some other reason for not hiring those people.

Sawmill Jim · #5 07/31/10, 02:57 PM

Have only had one of these tests in my life . They told me they were looking for non prescribed drugs or a higher level than your prescription called for

Only test i can ever pass

lamoncha lover · #6 07/31/10, 04:28 PM

gonna be some devestation here if this job falls through./We need it badly

Danaus29 · #7 07/31/10, 04:48 PM

Make sure he has a list of all his meds and writes them on the drug screen paperwork. Ds takes Sudafed for allergies yet always passes his drug tests.

JuliaAnn · #8 07/31/10, 05:22 PM

Lamancha, I'll be praying for y'all.

FWIW, when I filled out my job application and then the rest of the paperwork (called it an 'employee packet') when I was hired, there were no questions about prescriptions. The only question about drugs at all was whether or not I used illicit drugs or had been arrested or convicted. Nowhere was anything mentioned about prescription drugs. And when I went for my drug screening, I did put down my meds, and the physician's name and phone number, but that was only on the drug screen paperwork. I don't know to what extent HR connected the two, but it was never brought up even once, and I was trained and used a forklift all the time.

ldc · #9 07/31/10, 05:48 PM

Lamancha, I hope the job works out for your husband! These things can be straightforward or devious...I was tested before getting a job at the public library. In the end, they must have thrown out the samples as I was only applying for a 1/2 time job. I'm over 50 and it looked as if they were screening for diabetes, etc. The forms asked about prescribed and illegal drugs. The eye test was so involved, it took more than an hour. The dr that did it tho, was fishing for health history. I was surprised when I noticed that; very sly! The parish controls the libraries here, and I suspect they look for "cheap" employees...that is with no pre-existing heath problems. ldc

Joshie · #10 07/31/10, 06:16 PM

They'll ask him which meds he takes. They're interested in illegal drugs and narcotics. Be upfront and it shouldn't be a problem at all. I have had to take these tests with my nursing jobs. They ask what meds you take. I've asked the person who administers the tests what would happen if they found a narcotic for which I'd been prescribed. They said as long as it was a prescription it was OK.

For one of my tests I was on Vicodin for a sprained ankle. I told the person who ran it and they said not to worry as long as I had a script. Test showed that it was out of my system but it wouldn't have been a problem at all.

jrpoland · #11 07/31/10, 08:28 PM

Unless it is a DOT test, the "standard" test is a 5-panel test that looks for the big 5 drugs of abuse (cocaine, marijuana, etc.).

The only time a prescription drug has ever become an issue in my line of work is when it gives a "false positive" on one of the big 5. For example, there is an adult ADD drug that will make one test positive for methamphetamines.

Anyway, as a previous poster said, unless your husband operates heavy equipment or has a commercial driver's license, I suspect that his pain meds won't be an issue.

I wish ya'll the best of luck.

JohnL751 · #12 08/01/10, 03:00 AM

Wishing you the best.

I was out of work for 18 months. Most of the jobs I tried for didn't want someone so old.

Started my new job 3/1/10 and it is going well. Just 'hang in there' things will work out. Even at age 60, with a bad back, a bum knee and high blood presure, there are still places that will hire.

We don't have to settle for a low pay job as I was told I should. This job pays $13 an hour with lots of overtime.

Keep your 'chin up' it can be done.

Wisconsin Ann · #13 08/01/10, 07:06 AM

Good luck with it! I've had to do both the DOT tests/med exam and one for a "regular" job. As others have said...just be upfront with them about what drugs you have scripts for, and everything should be fine.

The only time there's a problem is if the medications will impair you (hubby) at work. Driving a forklift while on codeine for pain is NOT allowable..that type of thing.

I had 2 herniated disks at the time of one exam which had caused a workman's comp thing...that COULD have caused a problem, but since I had a doctor's release for work...it didn't. And I told them about it, and had the paperwork to say I'd gone through a bunch of pain clinics, work stuff...I got hired.

Here's hoping we're all here celebrating the NEW JOB on your next thread!!

Beeman · #14 08/01/10, 10:20 AM

Tell him to disclose all of it beforehand.
What type of work is he looking for? With pain meds just how physical of a job can he stand?
Old Dominion Freight Line in White Pine has been accepting applications and hiring. Drivers and dock workers and possibly maintenance.

Harry Chickpea · #15 08/01/10, 10:21 AM

If the prescription dose is generally found to be safe, reasonable, and not affect job performance, it is entirely possible that a job rejection based on it would be disallowed under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Don't bring it up unless there is a rejection based on the drug test, then document EVERYTHING and see an attorney if the employer has more than (15?) employees. IIRC, there is a cutoff number of employees where the ADA is lenient to micro-business, but strict with larger ones. Yeah, I did take a course in ADA compliance.

Wis Bang 2 · #16 08/01/10, 11:31 AM

Most non-DOT drug screens still give you the opportunity to disclose your prescription medications and they use a 7 panel test. The DOT, safety sensitive, test is a 5 panel screen and the inclusion of the MRO [medical review officer] to check if there is a reason for anything found and it is not supposed to ask about your meds.

It was always funny as the MRO's office would call saying they can't get a hold of a candidate as the MRO has to contact them even if the findings are for a drug without any legal medicinal use. Candidates could be clinically positive until the MRO called and found out they had used Tylenol w/ codeine after a tooth extraction. That was then reported to the trucking company as a negative test. Anything found w/ out a legitimate explanation was reported as a positive.

The candidate had three days to call the MRO back otherwise it will be reported as a positive. Anyone testing positive had to see a SAP [substance abuse professional], follow the course of treatment prescribed by the SAP, test negative and then could be put to work but had to face 6 random tests over the next 12 months and the fact that they tested positive was supposed to be reported to any inquiring potential employer. The DOT says we have immunity to do so as part of the background check involved in hiring a 'safety sensitive' individual...

Coupled w/ the required random, post accident and reasonable suspicion testing this had made truck driving, railroad engineer & airline pilot fairly drug free employee groups...

DamnearaFarm · #17 08/01/10, 12:13 PM

Dang it, Bee- how close are you to me, anyways? I can be to OD within ten minutes or less.

Beeman · #18 08/01/10, 06:39 PM

I'm outside of Rogersville in Hawkins County.

Baldor Dodge Reliant has been hiring, they're on 11w In Hawkins county. Most places are hiring thru At Work temp to permanent. They have some decent job listings. TVA is building a new steam plant in Hawkins county, they've been looking for everything from clerical to laborers. Job should be pretty big and last quite a while.

All of the advice about drug testing is very informative. It's getting so that anything can keep you from getting a job. Just had someone get a job and get fired after the first week as personnel dug deep and found something he omitted on application. Employers know they can be picky and they're using it to their advantage now to make applicants jump through hoops for most any job.

Gercarson · #19 08/01/10, 06:54 PM

Please, please keep us posted.

seedspreader · #20 08/01/10, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

I'm outside of Rogersville in Hawkins County.

Baldor Dodge Reliant has been hiring, they're on 11w In Hawkins county. Most places are hiring thru At Work temp to permanent. They have some decent job listings. TVA is building a new steam plant in Hawkins county, they've been looking for everything from clerical to laborers. Job should be pretty big and last quite a while.

All of the advice about drug testing is very informative. It's getting so that anything can keep you from getting a job. Just had someone get a job and get fired after the first week as personnel dug deep and found something he omitted on application. Employers know they can be picky and they're using it to their advantage now to make applicants jump through hoops for most any job.

My current job... I had to pass background test, actually have 3 references fill out a survey for me, etc.

Yup, lots of hoops.