Agency eliminates drug testing to cut costs
December 31, 2008 by Shane BorerPosted in: "Seemed like a good idea at the time", In this week's e-newsletter, Latest news & views
Most companies are being forced to trim expenses, but is this agency’s move opening a dangerous door in its interview process?
Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), looking for savings amid an economic crunch, has stopped its drug-testing program for all incoming applicants. Many of the department’s positions involve working directly with children, whether it’s investigating allegations of abuse and neglect or determining the best place to live for those living in foster care.
The 10-month-old program had successfully kept five dozen substance users from jobs interacting with children, but a shrinking budget has the department making many sacrifices. Each drug test costs $23.50 (for a total of $70,000 since the program’s inception), but the agency still can’t afford that small slice of the state’s budget.
But eliminating the tests seemed like the right idea for many others. DCFS tested all applicants, including those looking for part-time positions that didn’t involve interactions with children. Even volunteers at the agency were required to go through testing.
Margaret Berglind, president and CEO of the Child Care Association of Illinois, claims cutting the tests — rather than another, vital part of the agency — was a solid decision. “No one disagrees that we need to have clean and sober employees working with children,” said Berglind. “Whether these drug tests would actually ensure that, I don’t think there’s any proof of that anywhere.”
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Tags: Drug test, Employee screening, Part-time, Substance abuse, Volunteer
January 9th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
For $23.50, I think they should make the applicant pay for the test. They could wait until the applicants are in the last stage before hiring to have the tests performed. Those that are “clean” wouldn’t have any qualms about paying the $23.50 if they were really interested in the job.
January 16th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Our company pays for the test up front ($33.00) and deducts the amount out of the first three checks. If the employee will stay with us for six months or the time they state they will for seasonal employees, we reimburse the $33.00. If they quit before the test has been paid for, we deduct for the entire amount remaining unless it would cause them to go below minimum wage. We have found that most people who won’t pass don’t show up for the test. Also I think there is a law (maybe state) that pre-employment drug testing can only be done after the person is hired not during the application process.