Urinating in public is punishable by law. The urine test mandates indecent exposure in front of another person. .
When an employee is given a urine test, a form is provided so they may reveal any medications taken. This only further invades the privacy of the employee. .
"Judges have pointed out that a urine test is a search that is almost unlimited in its ability to reveal private medical information; epilepsy, heart conditions, current medications, and pregnancy can all be revealed." (Gilliom 93) Employers have no need for the excess information provided in the results. .
On the other side of the argument, testing has been condoned by the majority of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court judges argue that your urine will come out regardless of the test. Urination is a normal function of the body. Providing a sample in not invasive to the body. Providing a blood sample would involve a needle and some pain. .
Drug testing involves a small privacy invasion, but the main goal of the test is safety. Over seventy percent of current drug users are employed and jeopardizing the safety of the other employees. "Drug abusers are not only five times more likely than other worker to cause injuries, but are also responsible for over 40 percent of all industrial fatalities. " (Facts 2) This frightening statistic shows that anyone is at risk. The actions of others may cause work related accidents that could have been avoided. .
Drug abusers cost companies millions of dollars a year. They increase the risk of accidents, lower productivity, raise insurance costs, and reduce profits. According to the American Council for Drug Education's (ACDE) these are some behavior of Drug abusers.
Drug abusers are:.
- Ten times more likely to miss work.
- 3.6 times more likely to be involved in on-the-job accidents (five times more.
likely to injure themselves or another in the process.).
- Five times more likely to file a worker's compensation claim.