Please log in as a SHRM member. Disclaimer: The intent of this blog is to provide employers with practical guidance on how to handle drug testing issues as they relate to medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Those are roles not related to safety and security, Bottoms said in a statement, meaning the order wouldnt apply to police officers or people who drive sanitation trucks, for example. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an executive order suspending the physical exams and drug testing for employees entering non-safety sensitive positions, her office announced this week. 12. Studies have shown that on average, women earn 80 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn. Additional information regarding marijuana and workplace drug testing is available from the NORML fact-sheet, Marijuana Legalization and Impact on the Workplace., Copyright 2023 NORML and The NORML Foundation, Delaware: State Auditors Report Recommends Legalizing Marijuana, Opioid Prescriptions Decline in Canada Following Enactment of Adult-Use Marijuana Legalization, The website began accepting applications hours after a notice published in the Federal Register stated that the Office of the Pardon Attorney had developed the subject form to collect information from potential pardon recipients. In its notice, the Office estimated that as many as 20,000 people may apply to receive pardon certificates., Atlanta: Mayor Takes Executive Action Abolishing Pre-Employment Drug Screens for Many Public Employees. Use of an illegal drug or combination of illegal drugs, other than marijuana, during the past 10 years. Facebook page for Georgia Department of Public Safety, Twitter page for Georgia Department of Public Safety, Instagram page for Georgia Department of Public Safety, YouTube page for Georgia Department of Public Safety. Background checks are commonly used to see if an otherwise qualified individual has serious criminal convictions that indicate they might pose an undue risk to the employer, staff or public. 11. Illegal sale, distribution or manufacturing (to include growing) of any drug. With the policy change, Atlanta's application for potential police hires no longer includes a question about marijuana use. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is expected to sign the bill into law, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2022. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); The applicant is required to give a drug test no sooner than three months prior to the hiring date. back to top 10. $(document).ready(function () { . & The form asks if theyve ever used illegal drugs and to specify which drugs, but marijuana was removed from that list in mid-January, police officials said. It is the purpose of this policy to promote consistency in hiring practices and appropriate, job related screening of finalists for County positions. EHC prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation in employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age (40 and over), disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, veteran status or any other classification protected by Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. 3. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); Some bills to watch, Atlanta neighbors want to reclaim and revitalize the Joyland neighborhood. People were coming to us who were otherwise qualified, Shields said. Use of illegal drugs in violation of AFRD Pre-employment Drug Policy. ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The Atlanta Police Department will take applications from individuals who use drugs, specifically marijuana. is a local news reporter covering DeKalb County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Shields said about 60 percent of potential Atlanta Police hires were removed from the application process due to past marijuana usage. Further, the ADA generally prohibits medical examinations for job applicants until after they are offered a job. or you simply want to be proactive and implement a drug free workplace policy. Pre-employment drug tests are required by some employers as a condition of job offers. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued an executive order suspending pre-employment drug screenings for public employees in non-safety sensitive positions. Be the first to answer! In 2019, Bottoms removed the question about previous salaries from the citys employment applications, a move aimed at preventing wage discrimination. (D) For the purpose of a pre-job offer screening only, a person trained and qualified to conduct on-site testing; or (E) For the purpose of a pre-job offer screening only, a person trained and qualified to conduct oral testing, if an oral test is used; (6) Within five working days after receipt of a positive confirmed test result from the Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter@CityofAtlanta. Generally speaking, employers remain able to drug test applicants and employees as long as the employer clearly informs those applicants and employees of company policy, including pre employment screening, random drug testing, and any other post-hire testing. Two Peachtree Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 1-844-MYGADHS | dhs.ga.gov . The Agency's commitment to a Drug Free Workplace is detailed in PD-17. 55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Builds on Administrations Equity Agenda by Suspending Pre-Employment Physical Examinations and Drug Screenings for Non-Safety Sensitive Positions. The citys current pre-employment testing requirements, she said, are outdated and costly barriers to onboarding new talent in the city of Atlanta. And in 2014, the city banned a requirement for people with criminal convictions to disclose that information on job applications with the city. These reports help organizations make informed decisions and create safe workplaces. 1. The citywide order is similar to legislative changes enacted recently in several other municipalities including New York City and Washington, DC that have also eliminated drug screening for marijuana and other substances as a condition of employment. THC. Pre-Employment Applicant Drug Testing VA selected about 3 of every 10 applicants for pre-employment drug testing before hiring these individuals into TDPs in FY 2013. It is extremely cost-effective since most drug users will not bother applying at companies in the hotel industry that conduct pre-employment drug testing, consequently saving hotel industry employers time and money. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. In an effort to increase recruits, the Atlanta Police Department decided it will no longer ask potential hires about past marijuana usage an issue that has kept potentially well-qualified candidates from being hired. ( xR}vm{L|w? 14 questions about Drug Test at Piedmont Healthcare. Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. The controversial policy is a change from what has. 4. %PDF-1.5 % } Employer acts in accordance with a local, state, federal mandate; 4. Meth. If you are an employer in a state other than Pennsylvania, please contact our HR Helpline at 855-873-0374 for further guidance. With recreational use of marijuana now legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C., that slow acceptance is also being recognized by other law departments in Georgia and nationally. if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { nicotine. When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. . 2068 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9B7FEFB3014FF2469BC9F2529D25D503>]/Index[2060 35]/Info 2059 0 R/Length 59/Prev 515689/Root 2061 0 R/Size 2095/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream These tests typically screen for the presence amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and phencyclidine, but employers can also request testing for additional substances. Please Note: The following documents are NOT required to begin the application process, but MUST be brought into the Background and Recruitment Office within 10 days of attending a Recruiting Event: The following documents are also required, IF they are applicable to you, and must also be included with your completed application: If you need to exit the application process before completing the entire form, the Login ID and Password you created will allow you to return to your application in progress. It is establishing where you stand on the matter of drug use without a doubt. Pre-Employment Drug Testing Laws In Georgia The Georgia Legislature has enacted an employer pre-employment drug testing law, but the law only applies to employers with more than ten employees. ATLANTAMayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an Executive Order suspending pre-employment physical examinations and drug screening requirements for prospective City employees in non-safety sensitive positions. Your session has expired. As a matter of fact, having . Applicants with tattoos or brands will be disqualified for either of the following:Tattoos/brands that depict or support criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity, subversive groups, bigotry, etc. Do not leave any blank spaces. Not all metro Atlanta police departments are following in Atlantas steps. Employers with unionized workforces could still conduct testing for marijuana if employees agreed to testing in their collective bargaining contracts. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. The studys conclusion was consistent with those of other studies such as those here, here, here, and here finding that adults who consume cannabis in their off-hours are no more likely to suffer workplace injuries than are those employees who abstain from the substance. The Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources may still establish drug testing policies for certain positions. DPS does not allow the use of a long sleeve cover-up to hide any visible body art, tattoos, brands, or images that are visible in the short sleeve uniform. 18. If your business is hiring, promoting or considering contractors, please contact us. The changes in the departments recruitment policy reflect the same changes in how society views people who have ever smoked pot: Its no longer a deal-breaker. Employers reported more than $3 billion in pre-employment drug testing expenses. Discovery of an applicant's involvement in any crime of a serious or aggravated nature. "There's no evidence to support the claim that those who consume cannabis in the privacy of their own home away from the job pose a unique workforce safety threat or risk," said Paul Armentano, deputy director of marijuana law reform group NORML, based in Washington, D.C. "Suspicionless marijuana testing in the workplace, such as pre-employment drug screening, is not now,nor has it ever been, an evidence-based policy. The Atlanta Police Department has a policy related to tattoos and body art. The Order also grants the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources the authority to administratively establish requirements for pre-employmentphysical examinations and drug testing for safety sensitive positions and may designate certain employment classifications which affect safety and /or security as safety sensitive positions. Marriott employee here - the company does not test for marijuana (except for maybe a few positions that have additional safety needs). An alternative option to the permanent removal of tattoos that are in violation of this policy is for the officer to wear flesh-tone arm sleeves that cover the tattoos; thereby, making his or her appearance in compliance with Department directives. Reasonable suspicion drug testing helps minimize . Staff who do not pass this screening will not be . ATLANTA Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an Executive Order suspending pre-employment physical examinations and drug screening requirements for prospective City employees in non-safety sensitive positions. The use of cannabis during ones off hours poses no legitimate workplace safety threat and the tens of millions of Americans who engage in this behavior should no longer be stigmatized or denied employment because of it., Because THCs primary metabolite, carboxy-THC, is lipid soluble, residual levels of the compoundmay persist in urinefor weeks or even months post-abstinence.