Post by Logan on Jul 8, 2016 7:10:28 GMT -6
COEUR d'ALENE — Drug tests for all new city employees are a thing of the past.
The Coeur d’Alene City Council decided this week that across-the-board drug screening is no longer required for prospective new hires, but certain positions will still require pre-screening. Although the city has implemented changes in how it addresses the issue daily, Human Resources Director Melissa Tosi told The Press little has been done to change the policy itself since it was first written and approved in 1995.
"So there was language in there that was really outdated and needed to be updated," Tosi said.
Tosi added that in 1995 when the policy was adopted, there was a push for a completely drug-free workplace, and testing every prospect for drug and alcohol use was seen as the way to accomplish it. However, after the policy was implemented, Tosi said a number of federal court rulings concluded mandated drug testing in the public sector is a violation under the Fourth Amendment.
Now, pre-employment drug screening is required only for positions where a commercial driver's license is needed, as well as positions deemed "safety sensitive."
Read more: www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_50127c6d-01a6-5ef0-bcf6-d143b8c96146.html
The Coeur d’Alene City Council decided this week that across-the-board drug screening is no longer required for prospective new hires, but certain positions will still require pre-screening. Although the city has implemented changes in how it addresses the issue daily, Human Resources Director Melissa Tosi told The Press little has been done to change the policy itself since it was first written and approved in 1995.
"So there was language in there that was really outdated and needed to be updated," Tosi said.
Tosi added that in 1995 when the policy was adopted, there was a push for a completely drug-free workplace, and testing every prospect for drug and alcohol use was seen as the way to accomplish it. However, after the policy was implemented, Tosi said a number of federal court rulings concluded mandated drug testing in the public sector is a violation under the Fourth Amendment.
Now, pre-employment drug screening is required only for positions where a commercial driver's license is needed, as well as positions deemed "safety sensitive."
Read more: www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_50127c6d-01a6-5ef0-bcf6-d143b8c96146.html