Is hair-testing for a job a new thing?

[babylonsister]

I have a friend who 'passed' a background and pee test for a job. The final step was a hair test. I never heard of such a thing.

Why would a manager's job in a local automotive place require a hair test, and why would they spend the money?

[Agschmid]

1. Drug test.

Hair holds data a lot longer (well depending on your hair)...

[babylonsister]

6. I 'get' that, but why?

My mind is boggled that this is being done. All of a sudden.

[Agschmid]

7. It's not that new.

And why not? If an employer want a drug free staff this test will help them get that.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Nope. Blockbuster was doing that 20 years ago.

I knew people in high school who shaved their heads prior to applying for jobs there.

[NewDeal_Dem]

3. Pee & hair tests = the new normal for lower-skill workers. as I found out when I was forced into

that category by long-term illness.

[yeoman6987]

28. Tons of workers have this and definitely

Not just low wage. They are just catching up to the rest.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Not new.

Some of the major Railroads have been doing hair testing for years.

[NewDeal_Dem]

13. Just because RRs did it doesn't mean most employers did. When I was last in low-wage work,

about 20 years ago, it wasn't as near-universal as it is today.

[A HERETIC I AM]

22. The OP asked if it was a new thing.

I simply related some small bit of information I had that I thought was relevant.

[PM Martin]

5. Couldn't that sample

be held and placed into a DNA database?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. No, because you need the hair root for DNA.

Cut hair doesn't contain usable DNA.

[Kalidurga]

9. Drug testing is another of my pet peeves

It really doesn't do much to keep people from doing drugs. Hair testing might be a tad more difficult for a drug user to work around cuz they would have to stay clean for a long time. But, seriously if the job doesn't involve operating anything heavier than a price scanner then someone smoking a joint once in a while probably isn't a big deal.

[Warpy]

10. Hair tests are a next step

and will turn up long term drug use, while a pee test will turn up drugs that have been used within the past few days or (cannabinoids) a month.

It's just another way to prove employees are pieces of shit without rights to privacy.

[babylonsister]

11. I think it's the other way around.

Weed stays in your system for a month or more supposedly, but more potent stuff gets on through fast.

[Warpy]

16. 'Scuse me? You don't know what hair tests do.

Hair tests cover what has been taken over a period of months or years. Drugs are flushed out of your urine rather quickly but persist in your hair for as long as your hair has been growing.

People instead of being clean for a few weeks when they know they're having to take a wizz quiz to get a job, will now all be shaving their heads to get out of the hair tests.

[Politicalboi]

20. It doesn't have to be the hair on your head

And women aren't going to shave their heads either. It's another intrusive way to control the poor.

[doc03]

12. It's alright if you are a total acholic but heaven forbid

you ever smoked mj.

[babylonsister]

17. I figure they're testing for

drugs taken more immediately, like coke, pills, etc.

An alcohol test would never be considered; too many people drink.

[doc03]

19. I have heard they can detect drug use in several months. n/t

[Reter]

14. On average, how long does hair hold pot vs. pee testing?

n/t

[jmowreader]

27. Hair holds ALL drugs as long as you have the hair

That's the evil beauty of hair testing: not only can they detect that joint you smoked three weeks ago, but that line of coke and those pills you dropped.

[sorcrow]

15. Very common in mining

And if you shave your head, they'll pluck hair from somewhere else.
In the mine you're only as safe as the dumbest/most stoned co-worker. So drugs are never a good idea. I think hair tests cover several months of usage history.

Crow

[babylonsister]

25. Good. A mine is no place to be unsafe.

I was questioning why a 'normal' job now necessitates a hair test. I'm being informed!

[Politicalboi]

18. These policies are insurance companies fault

But it also puts people on a 24/7 time clock without getting paid. It's NONE of their business what the fuck I do on my OWN time. This is another reason why people who use medical Marijuana should be able to collect disability unless they exclude MJ from their screen. All for jobs that pay 9 or 10 bucks an hour with NO benefits. Yippie! If they continue, it should also include alcohol. People who drink come to work hung over. People who smoke come to work well rested and ready for anything.

[neverforget]

21. I had to take a pee and hair test to be hired on with a large railroad.

My understanding (I could be wrong) was that since the job is a federally regulated, safety sensitive job, we had to. Plus we get random pee tests if we have an accident such as derailing a car, running through switches, etc.

[babylonsister]

24. That I understand. Other

lives are involved. Your tests are a good thing, my sober friend.

[neverforget]

35. Absolutely as I sip a Long Island Iced Tea

on my weekend.

[babylonsister]

36. YAY! As a LIer, I approve your message.

Enjoy when you can.

[Brigid]

23. The company probably isn't paying for this.

My guess is the cost will come out of your friend's first paycheck.

[Horse with no Name]

26. My daughter dropped off an application at her current job

they called her back in for her interview, snipped her hair and told her that they would call her back for "another" interview after the results came back if they were clean.

Pretty sure a lot of folks are doing this.

[abelenkpe]

29. There's an animation studio in town

That demands a pee test. Wouldn't want those artists smoking weed. So dangerous! Hair test seems ridiculous for management job.

[babylonsister]

30. Haha! A pee test

seems to be ingrained, but this hair thing is new on me.

So do the hair and forget the pee, or something!

[Ilsa]

31. I hate the hair snipping.

For people with thin hair going to multiple interviews, it's a lot of hair. And then it sticks out weirdly when it grows back and the right length of your style. Screw them.

[Recursion]

32. Jesus. I had that when I got my *second* security clearance. Not even my first one.

What a complete waste of money. Crap like this needs to stop.

[babylonsister]

33. I have had security clearances w/o hair tests.

Then again, there were no pee tests either. Shit. Getting old.

[Recursion]

34. Come to think of it they may have been unrelated but simultaneous

I never actually asked if that test was part of the clearance process or just Yet Another Random Drug Test we had to do.

[Aerows]

38. It's part of the package

if you handle securities or sensitive data. You get fingerprinted as part of the insurance bond.

[Aerows]

37. No

it has been around for a long time. Any time you have a job that requires a bond on you will ask for such.

It's normal stuff - I've had to do it myself.