topic PRE EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL in Depression

PRE EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL

AnneEll — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:36:33 GMT

Hi. I have to go for a pre-employment medical next week which includes a drug test. I'd like to keep the fact I take medication private if possible. Would this show up in the drug test? I'm kind of worried that if I disclose it it may mean I won't get the job but if I don't and it is identified in my sample I'll have to tell the truth and it will come out that I lied. Please help? Any thoughts?

PRE EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL

Summer Rose — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:12:36 GMT

Hi AnneEll

Welcome to the bb forum and thank you for sharing your conerns.

I am an employer and I understand your worries. A lot of people feel the same way.

Your employer needs to advise the medical clinic what drugs to test for, so not all drugs in a person's system are automatically identified. I would like to suggest that you find out more about what they are testing for.

Most employers are looking for illicit drugs or any evidence of a condition that might impact your fitness for duty for the role. So, for example, while depression may affect your ability to land a job as a pilot it wouldn't have the same impact on your suitability for many other roles.

You can ask for a copy of your prospective employer's drug and alcohol policy or directly ask HR what they are testing for. A copy of the company's privacy policy will tell you how they intend to safeguard the information.

See if you can find any evidence of this employer's attitude towards mental health in the workplace. Do they have mental health first aiders? Do they have an employee assistance program? Do they have harassment contact officers?

Some employers are very open and progressive. Others are not. We still have a long way to go. But see what yoy can find out.

Kind thoughts to you

PRE EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL

geoff — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:04:49 GMT

Hi AnneEll, thanks for posting your comment.

Summer Rose is spot on and I don't want to reiterate what was said, only that they check for drugs and possibly to see if you have weed in your system, and even if you stopped smoking it, it stays in your system if you have been a constant/heavy user for up to 90 days once you stop depending on your body mass index and there's not much you can do to eliminate it any quicker.

The medication you take is not what they are after.

Best wishes.

Geoff.