Quest Diagnostics, Substitution, and Karma

[ionlylookinnocent]

Last week I found out that I had to take a pre-employment drug test (which is absurd since I've already been doing this job for years and am only going to be a "new" employee because of a funding switch). I've been a daily smoker for years, and although I quit as soon as I found out, I knew my chances of passing were slim to none. I looked into the products and dilution, but I felt like that was still leaving the door open for a failure. After reading N2s posts about substitution, I decided that would have to be the way to go, even though the idea made me incredibly nervous. My boyfriend was willing to give me his clean urine, and I experimented with water and a 2oz bottle to test storage and temperature. The practice helped, but I was still nervous (I'm just not very smooth, and once I get the jitters, they don't fade easily).
I collected my boyfriend's sample minutes before heading to the Quest Diagnostics site, stored it on my person (not to get graphic, but, ladies, if you must, that canal can serve a purpose), and went on my way. I stayed as calm as I possibly could, signed in, and minutes later, I was in the restroom alone. I gave the tester the cup, she held it up to look at the color, and from my experimentation I believe the temperature should have been fine. I was nervous, but it wasn't so bad. I think I totally pulled it off, but I'm trying not to get too cocky until I hear that all is well (boyfriend doesn't smoke, but I'm paranoid that there could be some kind of problem which will require me to retest). I was told the results would be given to my employer within 2 to 3 days, however human resources has already said that my paperwork can be processed. I'm still waiting to smoke (with baited breath-want to celebrate!!) until those 3 days have passed.
The funny thing is, after finding out that I was going to have this test and reading up on drug testing, I realized that this is such a violation of our civil rights. I vowed that I wouldn't just take the test, pass, and move on. If you see something wrong, you've got to try to change it, right? Anyway, not five minutes after leaving my test, someone from the ACLU is on the street asking me if I have a minute to listen to their policies and perhaps join. I joined on the spot and thanked her for doing what the rest of us are too lazy/busy/whatever to do.
What made me the most angry is the fact that someone could be a raging alcoholic or partake in any other drug and pass with two days notice at most. I see the point of testing anyone who is operating heavy machinery or dealing with people's health, but it only seems valid if they're tested at the point of service (i.e., I don't care if my doctor smokes when he's at home, but I don't want him stoned while s/he's examining me).
I apologize for the length of this post (thanks for your patience!), but I wanted to get a few points across: pre-employment at Quest is unobserved, substituting isn't that difficult but practice is advised, and drug testing for the purposes of a "safe" workplace is basically a sham. We should all be angry and looking into activism for all of our civil liberties, not just this one, because they're all being diminished.
I will reply to this post when I know I'm 100% in the clear. Thanks to all those who provided me with great advice through their posts on this board.

ionlylookinnocent Reviewed by ionlylookinnocent on 05-22-2007. Quest Diagnostics, Substitution, and Karma Last week I found out that I had to take a pre-employment drug test (which is absurd since I've already been doing this job for years and am only going to be a "new" employee because of a funding switch). I've been a daily smoker for years, and although I quit as soon as I found out, I knew my chances of passing were slim to none. I looked into the products and dilution, but I felt like that was still leaving the door open for a failure. After reading N2s posts about substitution, I decided Rating: 5

[icp]

quest is usualy pretty fast at processing just calling your employer there dam slow . maby have your employer call them (wont tell you the results) i got mine in under 24hrs las time by having the bossman call em

[Pylon]

oh shit... tests for drugs are understandable if ur on job doing them/UI of them or suspicous of doing it. But weed last awhile in you and its not cool they pick it up if u didnt do it recently, and MJ isnt REALLY bad either, meth and shit maybe so...

And ya who cares if u smoked at home awhile ago...

[winston3338]

Welcome, Good Luck and Good Post!!! Let Us know when You pass.

[kknight]

Congrats on subbing, if you made it this far, I would worry no more.

But the question I have is what part of this violates your rights? You work for a private company right?

It's my opinion and I hate drug tests (I have several a month, at random) but honestly, you work for a company and part of the requirement is to pass a drug test right? Alright so if you have two options, quit or pass and get fired.

Where is the violation of your rights? You don't have to work there.....

[ionlylookinnocent]

Congrats on subbing, if you made it this far, I would worry no more.

But the question I have is what part of this violates your rights? You work for a private company right?

It's my opinion and I hate drug tests (I have several a month, at random) but honestly, you work for a company and part of the requirement is to pass a drug test right? Alright so if you have two options, quit or pass and get fired.

Where is the violation of your rights? You don't have to work there.....

I see your point, and perhaps it's a gray area. It's their job, so I've got to play by their rules, right? I just felt like it was an unnecessary invasion of my privacy. I'm sure that if I didn't smoke, I wouldn't have cared in the least. I guess my point is that my resume, my references, and my previous work all prove that I'm an excellent employee. I am not responsible for anything that could harm myself or others (so no insurance risk) on the job. Also, it's not like they do or could legally require you to divulge medications you take, medical conditions, mental disorders, or learning disabilities. All of which can also affect one's performance. I understand that drug use is a choice while the other things I listed are not, I'm just trying to explain how I saw it.
Above all, employers are all about keeping your private life out of the office, so why should my employer be allowed to enter my private life?

[Nailhead]

Congrats on subbing, if you made it this far, I would worry no more.

But the question I have is what part of this violates your rights? You work for a private company right?

It's my opinion and I hate drug tests (I have several a month, at random) but honestly, you work for a company and part of the requirement is to pass a drug test right? Alright so if you have two options, quit or pass and get fired.

Where is the violation of your rights? You don't have to work there.....

With that logic then employers should also be able to fire people based on religion, race, sex, if they like to eat fast food, don't put the toilette lid down, whatever. We do have laws restricting some things such as that, so then we have to ask ourselves why is it an employers right to know how we live our life while we are not on the clock? What business is it of theirs? It is one thing if we come to work high/drunk, but you don't need a drug test to check for that.

It really comes down to control, it is in human instinct to want to control others behavior. This is seen through religion, government, etc., and is most obvious in the work world. An employer that tests for drugs wants to control how we live our life even when we are not working. If you think that is okay, that is your opinion, but in my opinion I think it is a violation of my rights and drug testing should be outlawed unless it is to check if the employee is currently high/drunk.

A new method of control employers are doing, or at least it is new at my work, is banning cigarette smoking on the property. I don't smoke cigs myself, and to be honest I really don't like smelling other people's smoke, but I think forcing your employees to go stand on the sidewalk just to smoke a cig is wrong, if not a bit silly. Jesus Christ these people are working for you, let them smoke if they want to, stop trying to control how people live their lives!!