Pre-employment drug test for UK businesses
Reduce the risk of workplace incidents with pre-employment drug and alcohol testing.
31%
of the UK population have taken illegal drugs, and their use is becoming more common [1], so drug testing during your hiring phase can mitigate risk within your workplace.
Pre-employment drug and alcohol testing is a screening process that can be used on a job applicant before being offered a contract, used by both employers and potential employees. Our drug testing service is often used for employees looking to work on nuclear sites or high security sites. We’re also used by UK employees looking to work abroad, often in North America or Canada.
Pre-employment tests can prevent substance abuse issues from entering the workplace, preventing:
- A culture of substance abuse from spreading among your staff
- Quality assurance issues, such as reduced work quality and productivity
- Employee walkouts due to a negative workplace culture
The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) permits the exclusion of drugs and alcohol, making it non-discriminatory to reject applicants based on these test results.
So, if you work within Health and safety, HR or wider Management, conducting pre-employment drug and alcohol tests enables you to identify and address potential substance abuse problems before they escalate.
Why do employers conduct pre-employment drug testing?
It reduces the likelihood of workplace substance abuse
Minimise workplace accidents and legal liabilities by screening out candidates involved in drug and alcohol misuse.
They maintain your productivity
To boost work quality and productivity, ensure new hires are fit for duty, especially in safety-sensitive roles. And speed up the hiring process with objective criteria to reduce your vetting time.
Testing creates a safe workplace culture
Foster a drug-free workplace to reduce turnover and attract top talent who value a safe and healthy work setting.
Looking for pre-employment drug & alcohol testing? Racoo screening can help
Pre-employment is a type of testing vital to the hiring process, designed to screen job applicants for substance use before they join your team.
Conducted either during the job interview or at a later stage, this testing aims to detect illegal drugs or alcohol in a candidate’s system.
The primary goal is to ensure employees are fit for duty and not under the influence of substances that could hinder performance or jeopardise workplace safety. This is especially crucial for safety-sensitive roles and is a comprehensive element of employment screening.
By doing so, you gain valuable insights into a candidate’s lifestyle involving illicit drug or excessive alcohol use, allowing you to assess their suitability for employment more accurately.
Our tests promise:
- Immediate response so you can get an answer to fit your employment process
- The ability to be tailored to each company’s needs
- Flexible to suit your shifting priorities
Why Racoo?
FAQs
About pre-employment drug testing in the workplace
The testing can occur during the job interview or at a later stage. Candidates provide a sample collection of urine or saliva, which is analysed for the presence of illegal drugs or excessive alcohol. Results are typically available quickly to fit your hiring timeline.
Yes, candidates can refuse to take the test, but doing so means you may choose to disqualify them from the hiring process. You must obtain consent before conducting the test, in line with UK legal requirements.
The most common drug test for employment in the UK is either a urine or saliva test [3]. Racoo offers both, among others, including hair drug testing; however, urine tests are the most common option used by businesses to test for drugs.
Yes we can. To ensure that you receive proper documentation for your test, we offer the option to generate an invoice and/or receipt.
Yes, PCP (Phencyclidine) can be included in the PCP drug test. The PCP drug test specifically screens for the presence of Phencyclidine in a person’s system. This test is commonly used to detect PCP use for employees in the USA.
If your candidate’s screening comes back positive, then you can disqualify them from the hiring process. You can choose to inform the candidate of the positive results, and they may have a legitimate medical reason for failing your screening, but this is at your company’s discretion.
Pre-employment drug and alcohol testing is a screening process conducted on job applicants before offering them a contract. It’s instrumental in safety-critical industries. Testing helps detect illegal substances in a candidate’s system, ensuring they are fit for duty and not a risk to your workplace safety.
In the UK, pre-employment drug testing is legal, but employers must have consent from candidates before performing a drug test. The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) permits the exclusion of drugs and alcohol, making it non-discriminatory to reject applicants based on these test results [2].
Implementing pre-employment drug testing mitigates the risk of workplace incidents and creates a culture of safety and productivity. It serves to judge candidates in your hiring process, helping you make informed decisions while sticking to legal standards.
