Comments on: Nuclear potheads

By: The Bosphorus

The Bosphorus — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:49:59 +0000

Does Bechtel have some sort of random drug testing agreement with its employees when they hire on?

By: Netmom

Netmom — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:58:19 +0000

Bos, I think they do. I know Y-12 does.

In any case, employers do have every right to regulate posession and/or use of certain substances (including legal substances like alcohol) in the workplace. A McDonalds manager would probably be fired for having weed in the office too; it’s just that in some environments (the molten salt reactor being one), an impaired employee is a much greater danger to himself and others.

There are other examples where use of substances outside the workplace is also regulated — like airline pilots, or companies that have a “no tobacco” policy for all employees (whether at work or at home).

The issue of substance posession or use at work is altogether separate from any disussion of legalization, I think.

By: Atomictumor

Atomictumor — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:21:29 +0000

I agree, and stated that in the post, that use at work should be prohibited. However, I think its intolerable for employers to extend this service to an employee off the job, for any reason.

By: daco

daco — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:23:05 +0000

Of course, if that company expects employees to steer clear of dope in their off hours…the employees can always not accept the job and work somewhere else. For that matter they could be self-employeed and set their own drug policies.

By: Netmom

Netmom — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:13:34 +0000

One of the many joys of self employment {disclaimer: my own policy is no illegal substances. Beer, however, is fair game.}

By: daco

daco — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:31:58 +0000

Making policy is a beautiful thing.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:59:46 +0000

So is tenure.

By: daco

daco — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:32:09 +0000

lol…I bet.