AutoZone has been dealing in vehicle parts and accessories since 1979 when it was founded. It is well-known for its nationwide automotive accessory retail services. It has retail outlets in about 6400 stores in the US and four other regions around America. Know more about Does AutoZone Drug Test?
AutoZone has a “no drug” policy around the workplace, which means that they have the right to drug test both their current employees and potential ones.
Methods of drug testing.
They have two methods of drug testing:
- Urine test
- molar swab examination
Like most companies that carry out drug testing on their employees or those about to be employed, AutoZone favors the urine test because it is the most economical of the others.
Process of AutoZone drug test:
Step one.
The urine sample is collected.
The person being tested is either sent to a lab or given a bottle or a container that has a tight seal and is asked to fill it with urine.
Step two.
The urine sample is given to the collector or submitted to the laboratory where the analysis will be carried out.
Step three
The testing might take place immediately or be dropped at the testing lab. Either way, you are asked to wait for the result or come back for it.
Step four
The urine is tested.
The urine is usually tested for two things at a standard lab:
- The presence of substances like;
- Opiates
- Amphetamines
- Marijuana
- PCP
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- barbiturates.
- It is tested for adulterants. There are chemical compounds that can adulterate the urine, which would mean that the test result would be inaccurate.
Step five
The result is ready. The result is sent back to the company once it is ready. The result can either be positive or negative. The results can take 24 hours to be out, while it could be up to 72 hours in some cases.
Situations when AutoZone drug tests
- Random drug tests for their workers
- Drug testing based on suspicion
- Post-accident drug test
- Sometimes as a pre-employment process.
The AutoZone drug testing policy
- Under the Constitution, they are reserved the right to carry out a drug test on their workers or recruits whenever they feel it is necessary.
- They follow the outline prescribed by the Federal Government or State laws when they carry out the test.
- The test can be conducted randomly, and it can be done at any time without prior notification to the employees.
- They can also carry out a drug test on someone who they perceive to be under the influence of a banned substance. This also applies to people who are involved in accidents at work.
- Employees and the new hires in the transportation unit must compulsorily submit themselves to drug testing. For the new employees, it could be part of the screening process.
- AutoZone can also carry out random drug tests for the managers.
- The implication of failing a drug test as an employee is an automatic dismissal. This is to emphasize their zero tolerance for the use of hard substances around the workplace.
- If a new hire fails a drug test, the person would be denied employment but can be given the chance to re-apply.
Reason for AutoZone to carry out drug tests:
The following are reasons why AutoZone carries out drug tests:
- To provide a safe environment in which employees can perform their duties. The use of drugs can be harmful to a lot of people, including the user. Having drug users around the workplace is not safe because of the harm they can cause.
- The safety of everyone around them is threatened.
- It prevents the company from lawsuits that could result from injuries around the workplace that are caused by drug use. The company can be charged for not adequately ensuring the safety of their workers which could result in heavy fines or settlements. This can cause them to lose a lot of money.
- It helps the company to maintain a culture of productivity and effectiveness in the work environment. Drug users are not usually at their best when working under the influence of drugs. Their productivity is grossly affected, which could harm the company’s profit.
- To protect the reputation of the company. If the company is known to be associated with a drug user, the reputation of the company is usually affected negatively. A bad reputation means that people will be scared to apply for jobs in the company, while it could also affect the customer’s perspective about the company.
- They also drug-test to avoid incurring unnecessary financial expenses. Hospital bills are usually paid for by the company should an employee be injured while on duty. To avoid paying these kinds of bills, they prefer to spend a little on drug testing rather than incur heavy financial expenses.
Conclusion
AutoZone drug tests for the same reasons that many companies do. The reason is always to protect the company from the unpleasant experiences that are associated with the use of drugs.
Frequently asked questions about AutoZone’s drug test
- Can I refuse to be drug tested?
Answer: Yes, you can refuse to be tested. However, the implication of not doing so is that you will lose your job.
- Does AutoZone usually drug test their employees?
Answer: Even though they have the right to do so, in reality, they rarely conduct the tests except when accidents happen.
