NCJ Number
161671
Journal
Personnel Volume: 67 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1990) Pages: 32-36
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A survey of employees of one of the country's largest railroads gathered information on the effects of employee drug testing on employee morale in an industry in which Federal regulations require random drug testing.
Abstract
Questionnaires were mailed to 995 engineers, switch operators, brake operators, conductors, and firefighters. Participants completed the questionnaires anonymously and mailed them to the researchers in business reply envelopes with no identifying marks. Three hundred thirty-three responded. Twenty-seven reported never being tested for drugs. Of those who said they had been tested, 42 percent reported having been tested once, 19 percent twice, and the others three or more times. Six percent reported that they were tested in post-accident situations. Findings indicated mixed feelings about drug testing. Workers doubt the accuracy of drug tests, although their suspicion lessons as they gain more experience with testing. Many approve of tests for new employees and for current employees whose on-the-job behavior suggests the influence of drugs. However, they oppose post-accident, periodic, and random drug tests. Findings raise serious questions about the effectiveness of drug testing by urinalysis as a means to achieving the goals of worker productivity and safety. Tables