Does Macy’s Drug Test Its Employees?

Macy’s has provided many people with job opportunities since its founding in 1929. The department store has over 75,000 employees, and with an average hourly rate of around $12, it has helped many employees earn an honest living. It is known for its strict dress code that demands no jeans, and you have to wear business casual. Seeing such strict rules, you might therefore wonder if Macy’s drug tests its employees. Here is everything you need to know about the store’s drug testing policy and if you stand a chance of being part of the workforce.

No, It Does Not Test Prospective Employees

According to Felony Friendly Jobs, Macy’s does not drug test prospective employees going by the laid down guidelines of its recruitment process. Past employees who posted online confirm that the store does not subject employees to drug tests. However, as the article further details, Macy’s code of conduct clearly states that it does not condone the consumption of alcohol or drugs on the job. This means that when you are suspected of abusing drugs, the manager will likely conduct a random drug test. The code of conduct for Macy’s states that the only exception of reporting to work while under the influence of alcohol is when alcoholic drinks are served at company-sponsored events. When it comes to drugs, you can report to work having consumed drugs prescribed by a licensed physician, or those available over the counter. However, if such drugs impede your ability to perform your assigned duties, you should inform your manager who will know how to address the situation. Perhaps the decision not to conduct pre-employment testing was further enhanced by the bill issued by New York City Council in April 2019. The bill states that employers are not allowed to do pre-employment drug tests since that would amount to discrimination. However, the law intends to remove barriers to employment, especially to people of color. It does not encourage anyone to report to work while under the influence. For this reason, certain jobs, such as those dealing with security, are exempted from this rule. Macy’s has a reputation for not entertaining employees who do not follow the rules. Therefore, you will likely be fired if your drug tests turn positive. If the department store went to the extent of firing an asthmatic employee due to a one-day absence, imagine what it would do to staff who report to work high on drugs. You can also confirm how strict Macy’s policies are, going by its memo requiring employees to upload their COVID-19 vaccination statuses by January 16, 2022. The company added that it was considering asking for proof of negative results to be uploaded from February 16, 2022, proving that it does not leave anything to chance.

How Medical Review Officers Save Employee Jobs

According to AtHandTraining, companies with zero-tolerance policies on drugs at the workplace make it easier to deal with anyone whose tests come back positive. As per the article, the strict policy makes it known to the employee that failing a drug test after joining the payroll will result in termination. However, some companies, such as Macy’s, have unclear drug policies. The code of conduct only states that they do not condone alcohol and drugs at the workplace but does not say the consequences of testing positive. As a result, we can only assume that firing an employee is solely at their discretion. Thankfully, they are likely to use a third party for reviewing the tests seeing that they are doing the same for their COVID-19 vaccination status reports. The third party involved in drug testing is a medical review officer (MRO). Such an officer is a licensed physician with training in substance abuse disorders whose job is to analyze the findings of a drug test then judge it based on an employee’s medical profile. The officer then renders a verdict to the employer. An employer is not likely to know if an employee’s results were positive when the MRO determines that the drug turned positive due to maybe consumption of poppy seeds. Since most employers would not have the foresight to dig why drug tests turned positive, employees have MROs to thank for saving their jobs if the verdict is in their favor. That is not to say that it is easy to convince an MRO that your test was positive for medical reasons. The officer will want to see evidence that the drug in your system was prescribed. In some instances, the MROs carry out detective work when employees cannot understand how the drugs got in their systems. For this reason, MROs must be independent and should not be affiliated with the lab conducting the drug tests since there will arise a conflict of interest.

Can Your Past Employer Reveal Results of Drug Tests

According to Scout Logic Screening, an employer can reveal your drug tests depending on several factors. For instance, if you are applying for a government position, it is most likely that your past employer will be required to reveal your failed drug tests. However, for private companies, your secrets are safe. Unfortunately, if a failed drug test results in a criminal conviction, your results will be a matter of public record meaning any future employer will have access to it. All the same, the blog post explains, such requirements differ from state to state, and it is best to consult your lawyer to see where you stand. You might be compensated heavily if an employer discloses your failed drug test. Even when disclosure is legal, the results could be a false positive, meaning that you can sue for defamation. Remember that even you have to consent to the employer accessing your drug tests results by signing a release form. When the results are in the custody of an employer, they must be kept confidential and away from an employee’s general information file. It is up to the employer to determine who needs to know the results lest a company can have a difficult time proving that there was a legitimate reason to invade the privacy of an employer by revealing results to anyone who did not need to know.