Founded in 1883, Kroger is a leading supermarket chain specializing in selling a wide range of budget-friendly groceries. With over 2,700 locations, Kroger stands as the second-largest supermarket chain in the US, housing over 10,000 employees. The company hires new candidates every year to maintain its operations. Read on to find out Does Kroger Drug Test?
Clearing the background check and drug test is mandatory for the candidates applying for jobs at major retailers, and Kroger is no exception to this. Kroger follows a strict policy and conducts mouth and urine tests before hiring any candidate when it comes to drug testing.
Let us take a detailed look at Kroger’s drug testing policy.
Kroger Drug Testing Policy
To maintain its standards and reputation in the market, Kroger has a strict rule book in place for its employees. The supermarket chain stresses on high ethical and moral standards for its employees. To make its customers feel safe and maintain its standards, Kroger adopted a strict drug testing policy.
So, what is Kroger’s drug testing policy? As part of its drug testing policy, Kroger requires all its applicants who made it to the interview process to undergo a drug test. Prospective candidates should clear the pre-employment drug test to land the job. However, not all stores have the same policy for drug testing. The state laws govern Kroger’s drug testing policy.
Besides the pre-employment drug test, the supermarket chain conducts regular drug tests on its employees. Employees and candidates who fail to clear the drug test will be terminated or wouldn’t be offered the job respectively. While some states in the US legalized the usage of certain drugs, the company still runs drug tests just to be on the safer side.
What Drugs Does Kroger Test For?
Kroger administers a mouth swab test to test its employees and candidates for the usage of drugs. However, Kroger employees should undergo urine tests for drug detection in some severe situations like post-accident situations.
The supermarket chain follows a five-panel drug screening and checks for the following five drugs- Methamphetamine, Phencyclidine(PCP), Cocaine, Opiates, and Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC). The only solution to pass the Kroger drug test is to remain sober for at least a week before the interview, as the drug test cannot be rescheduled.
On What Occasions Does Kroger Run A Drug Test?
Kroger reserves the right to run drug tests on its employees and prospective employees when the company deems necessary. So, here are the occasions during which Kroger runs drug tests-
- Pre-Employment Drug Test
Candidates who applied for a position at Kroger are required to take a pre-employment drug test as decided by the company. Usually, the candidates are asked to take the test before the interview or after clearing the interview. Clearing the pre-employment drug test is necessary for the candidates to land the job.
- Random Drug Test
To maintain its standards and reputation among its customers, Kroger runs sudden drug tests on its employees. Employees who fail to clear the test are faced with immediate termination. Usually, the employees from safety and security departments are the ones to face random drug tests.
- Suspicious Behavior
If an employee exhibits suspicious behavior linked to substance abuse, Kroger has the absolute right to drug test them. If found taking drugs, the employment is terminated.
- After An Accident
If any store is involved in an accident, be it major or minor, the entire store’s staff gets drug tested.
Conclusion
Kroger is a leading supermarket chain in the US, with over 2,700 stores across the country. The company emphasizes on high ethical and moral standards of its employees. To maintain its standards in the market, the supermarket chain administers drug tests to all its employees and prospective applicants and tests them for the five-panel drugs. The employees and applicants must clear the drug test. Else, they will be faced with termination and rejection, respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Happens If An Existing Kroger Employee Fails The Drug Test?
Kroger has a strict drug testing policy in place. As per the policy, the company runs sudden periodic drug tests, and if an employee tests for taking drugs, their employment will be terminated.
- What Type Of Drug Test Does Kroger Do?
Since running drug tests on every prospective candidate and employee becomes expensive, Kroger runs a mouth swab test, which is considered cheaper than other options.
- Can A Candidate Reschedule Their Drug Test?
As of 2022, Kroger doesn’t allow any candidate to reschedule their drug test. They must take the test at the time decided by the company.
- What Is The Minimum Hiring Age At Kroger?
The minimum hiring age at Kroger varies from state to state, depending on the state laws. While some locations hire candidates as low as 14 years, other stores require the candidates to be 16 years old.
