Community backs work drug testing

Drug testing now covers 40 to 50 per cent of the workforce. Photo / Thinkstock

Three-quarters of New Zealanders believe employers should have the right to drug-test their workers.

A Horizon Research poll of 2266 adults aged 18 and over, commissioned by labour hire company Allied Workforce, comes as the Government considers a proposal by the Rebstock Welfare Working Group to penalise beneficiaries who avoid applying for jobs where drug testing is common.

Employers and Manufacturers Association health and safety manager Paul Jarvie estimates that drug testing now covers 40 to 50 per cent of the workforce.

But Engineers Union health and safety co-ordinator Fritz Drissner said random testing was demeaning and ignored fatigue and overwork.

Drug Foundation chief executive Ross Bell said the tests failed to measure whether recreational drug use actually caused any impairment, and completely missed the most widely used drug - alcohol.

Allied Workforce has drug-tested all job applicants at its 31 branches for the past three years. Chief executive Mike Huddleston said all applicants were warned about the tests on the phone and about half never turned up. Thirty per cent of those who did turn up failed the test.

His survey asked: "Thinking about the use of recreational drugs [like marijuana] and the workplace, do you think that the use of recreational drugs causes any problems in the workplace?"

A massive 83.2 per cent said yes; 16.8 per cent said no.

Asked: Do you think people who are using recreational drugs endanger themselves and others in the workplace? 73.8 per cent said yes; 9.4 per cent said no; and 16.7 per cent did not know.

Asked: Do you think employers should be able to test the people working for them for recreational drug use? 77.9 per cent said yes; 22.1 per cent, no.

And asked: Do you think employers should be able to test people applying for jobs for recreational drug use? 66.5 per cent said yes; 33.5 per cent, no.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the Government was considering the Rebstock proposal to cut the benefits of unemployed people who fail a drug test or avoid applying for jobs in industries where drug-testing applies.

"Those on unemployment benefits are expected to be ready and available for work and that includes being drug free," she said. "We expect it for people who are in work so why shouldn't we expect it for people who are looking for work? Frankly, I don't think that's too much to ask."