Just the fact that you do it weeds out undesirable job-seekers.

One of the fastest-growing trends among US companies is drug testing. According to the American Management Association, nearly 100 percent of Fortune 500 companies conduct pre-employment and random drug tests on employees.

James Fuch is director of human resources for Culligan Water Conditioning, Minnetonka, MN, one employer that has found drug testing a valuable practice. He believes that drug testing is an essential tool in the hiring process.

"All of our job offers are conditioned upon successfully passing our drug test," Fuch explained. "It's simple. We want top-quality people servicing our customers."

All dealers want the same thing
All businesses, including water treatment and bottled water dealerships, want at least one thing: someone who is clean, trustworthy, and competent to represent their company. According to Fuch, drug testing is one way to achieve it.

When each potential employee comes in, they immediately get a copy of Culligan's drug testing policy. As a result, 25 percent of the people who come into the dealership seeking employment never bother to complete the application - thus weeding out shoddy employees from the start.

Fuch also said rumors of drug testing tend to spread quickly through a community.

"Word gets out on the street when you implement a testing program. It becomes pretty apparent that there's no need to apply if you're a drug user," he said.

In addition to pre-screening, Culligan also tests after an accident involving a company vehicle in which damages are greater than the deductible in the company's auto insurance program. It also tests if a person has accumulated lost time in a workers' compensation case or if there is reasonable suspicion of drug use.

Test types
By implementing a drug testing program, an employer can create a safe environment for customers and employees.

Various types of drug tests are available for use by employers. There are those that test urine, saliva, hair, blood, and sweat (the patch test). Each type varies in price.

The most commonly used is the urine test, which has the benefit of being inexpensive and less intrusive than the blood test.

Many benefits
Besides contributing to a positive work environment, drug tests help employers improve turnover rates, boost productivity, decrease employee lost-workday time, reduce workers' compensation claims, and promote a drug-free workplace.

"The fact is that if you really implement the system it makes a difference in the quality of people you have coming into your business," Fuch said.