If you’re an employer, then one of the challenges you may face is learning more about drug testing laws and what rights you have as an employer. The reality is that the drug testing laws vary considerably from state to state, so it is important that you focus on your specific state to get relevant information. If you’re searching for more information on drug testing in the state of Texas, then there are a few places you can look to find more information. Keep reading to find out about the resources that may be available to you.
The Texas Workforce Commission
Texas drug testing laws can be confusing if you have no experience with them, for that reason it’s worth finding a reliable resource that has a lot of information about the rules and regulations. Texas is a relatively ‘employer’ friendly state when it comes to drug testing and there are a number of situations where it is possible to drug test your employees. The Texas Workforce Commission is able to support you with learning more about this, or pointing you in the right direction of where to find more information relevant to your company and industry. You can contact them by phone, or browse their resources on their website.
Your Company’s Drug Testing Policies
If you work for a larger company, then there should be a clear set of established company policies regarding drug testing policies. There are a number of situations where drug testing may be required, or preferred, such as in the case of a workplace accident, for pre-employment screening, and also in the case of suspected use or intoxication while at work. If your company does not have an established policy for drug testing, then it may be worth creating one. There are some specifics of drug testing that need to be followed, such as an alcohol sample after a workplace incident must be taken within 8 hours. Having clear drug testing policies can be helpful to make dealing with a situation easier, but it can also be good as it lets your employees know what is expected of them and what will happen in specific, clearly defined situations.
An Attorney
When looking to drug test your employees for whatever reason, it is imperative that your actions fall within the scope of your legal rights within Texas’ legislation. Because Texas is so “employer friendly” when it comes to drug testing, it’s a little less intimidating than more liberal states such as California, but it’s still important that you’re following the law. An attorney can provide specific state guidance on how to manage any drug testing within your company, but they can also be a huge resource if you find yourself dealing with an employee returning a positive drug test result. It will be important to have specialized guidance if you have to move forward with any disciplinary action based on drug testing.
Seeking further guidance for learning more about how to perform legal drug testing on your employees is an important part of ensuring that you’re working within the limits of the law. Make sure you keep up to date with any drug legalization changes that may impact drug testing laws in Texas.
