Royal Mail to start drug and alcohol testing?

[Barnacle]

Barnacle you are wrong and there are plenty of court tribunals to prove it.

Okay, we’ll see how RM use test results.

[2chorizon]

Some of these responses are wild.

Some of you are suggesting that Royal Mail are going to be doing blood tests.

I’m telling you now as someone that has to be tested regularly because of genetic cancer condition, I will absolutely be refusing any testing that invasive.

I don’t drink or take drugs but until we know exactly who’s doing the testing , what testing it will be and if it can differentiate between prescribed drugs and illegal ones and then what happens to that data then some responses seem off the mark.

This company claims to be losing money hand over fist and yet this will cost them loads.

RM won’t be doing the tests. They’ve outsourced testing to a company that does testing within workplaces.

Aquarius life is doing the rehabilitation and uses a drug testing company called Abbotts according to their website

[2chorizon]

There is a “chain of custody” for the samples you’ll hear all about it.

You will be asked to write down all the drugs you are taking on prescription etc before the test, these will be discounted from the results. (but you may need to provide prescription evidence)

Its not invasive, drugs are a urine test with a dipper stick and alcohol is a standard breathalyser.

There are no blood tests.

You get notice and offered rehab but you will be informed that failing the test without disclosing prescribed drugs will result in dismissal.

Thats how it worked in another large corp that i worked for back in 2012 (engineering)

As i said we lost an average of 1 person a month to the cannabis testing, they just couldnt stay off it.

People had wild ideas like taking in a pot of someone elses urine or buying these speacial “milkshakes” that claimed to cleanse cannabis from the body or fox the tests etc but none of it was ever tried AFAIK and no-one ever got re-instated or even had an successful appeal.

This is likely going the be the same or very similar, bottom line…..you cant do the weed anymore (unless on prescription and even then you may be moved off duty)

[reddevils]

Quote: As i said we lost an average of 1 person a month to the cannabis testing, they just couldnt stay off it.

Thats why Royal Mail want to introduce it then, to cut numbers, not to improve healthy and safety.

I dont have an exact number of Royal Mail Depots/ Mail centres. But by them figures if there are 1500 depots/mail centres
there would be 18,000 job losses in a year.

The employer does not care about health and safety so don't act so moralistic, it cares about profit. New entrants, less terms.
Business does not have a role of care in society, anymore its only care is its shareholders and they think this is a winner.

[2chorizon]

Quote: As i said we lost an average of 1 person a month to the cannabis testing, they just couldnt stay off it.

Thats why Royal Mail want to introduce it then, to cut numbers, not to improve healthy and safety.

I dont have an exact number of Royal Mail Depots/ Mail centres. But by them figures if there are 1500 depots/mail centres
there would be 18,000 job losses in a year.

The employer does not care about health and safety so don't act so moralistic, it cares about profit. New entrants, less terms.
Business does not have a role of care in society, anymore its only care is its shareholders and they think this is a winner.

It’s about “Liability”

(they are just playing catch up to other big companies)

The liability risk of having an employee involved in a fatal RTC etc and then testing positive for illegal drugs or alcohol could land the company with a massive lawsuit.

Their reasoning is “Liability”

Someone stoned and operating machinery in an MC injures a fellow employee.

HGV driver had a puff on tea and then stoved in the loading dock at a DO

The risk & liability is there to justify it i’m afraid. Maybe not someone pushing a HCT but it has to be fair across the board, and that postie could do OT at the local MC or be sent there etc

In the first year there be alot of positive tests and dismissals but once people see they aint getting around it they will toe the line and the positive tests will drop off dramatically.

[2chorizon]

Edit: Double post

[reddevils]

Ok , but when they say they can't afford pay raises etc and we are losing a million pound a day, tell me how much a outsourcing a drug testing contract and rehabilitation will be. Also they just purchased 20 percent of Greece's ACS parcel business for 80 million.
Business is spouting utter bollocks.

[2chorizon]

Ok , but when they say they can't afford pay raises etc and we are losing a million pound a day, tell me how much a outsourcing a drug testing contract and rehabilitation will be. Also they just purchased 20 percent of Greece's ACS parcel business for 80 million.
Business is spouting utter bollocks.

I don’t think they have a choice, its the “Liability” risk (their insurers may even be insisting on it)

[reddevils]

I don’t think they have a choice, its the “Liability” risk (their insurers may even be insisting on it)
[/quote]

And this has happened all of a sudden. When did Park and Loop come into play? Do not believe it for a second.

I think it is more to do with Ofcom in the summer authorising 2nd class mail every 2-3 days and the job losses
or VR's that is bound to create.

[Barnacle]

I don’t think they have a choice, its the “Liability” risk (their insurers may even be insisting on it)

And this has happened all of a sudden. When did Park and Loop come into play? Do not believe it for a second.

I think it is more to do with Ofcom in the summer authorising 2nd class mail every 2-3 days and the job losses
or VR's that is bound to create.
[/quote]

They want to shed 10,000 jobs. This is going to make a dent in that number.

[reddevils]

Exactly. The only thing you need to know about corporate Britain is profit is king. They don't care about the public ,the service, the employees, the regulators or the government. They care about the shareholders. No moral or ethics supersede this. It is purely about bottom line to the detriment of society and customers.

Drug and alcohol policy floats in the same boat. Despite people being manipulated this is a health and safety policy, it isn't. It is a attempt from boardroom level to cut numbers. Despite what people say about Amazon, the parcel industry is the wild west which is what Royal Mail wish they had. Unregulated, responsibility on the driver, bogus self employment, speeding, alcohol, drug unchecked, at Evri not even allowed to enter the depot for the toilet for infringement they might be classified as an employee in court.

Anyone who supports this policy is foolish. It is not for what they say it is for. If it was I would be supportive. But it is a cynical attempt to reduce numbers.

[steve1873]

Will the test pick up Viagra? Asking for a friend.

Too hard to detect.

[Pidleypoo]

There is a “chain of custody” for the samples you’ll hear all about it.

You will be asked to write down all the drugs you are taking on prescription etc before the test, these will be discounted from the results. (but you may need to provide prescription evidence)

Its not invasive, drugs are a urine test with a dipper stick and alcohol is a standard breathalyser.

There are no blood tests.

You get notice and offered rehab but you will be informed that failing the test without disclosing prescribed drugs will result in dismissal.

Thats how it worked in another large corp that i worked for back in 2012 (engineering)

As i said we lost an average of 1 person a month to the cannabis testing, they just couldnt stay off it.

People had wild ideas like taking in a pot of someone elses urine or buying these speacial “milkshakes” that claimed to cleanse cannabis from the body or fox the tests etc but none of it was ever tried AFAIK and no-one ever got re-instated or even had an successful appeal.

This is likely going the be the same or very similar, bottom line…..you cant do the weed anymore (unless on prescription and even then you may be moved off duty)

I won’t be giving the details of any medical issues or prescriptions to any third party.

Sack me for it.

[Dexydog]

I think this is the point.
If you aren't displaying any signs of being under the influence of either drink or drugs, then how can they reasonably expect you to give a sample?
On what grounds?
I won't be doing it on principle as I don't drink, at all, and certainly don't do drugs of any kind that would affect my work or safety of others.

[SpacePhoenix]

I think this is the point.
If you aren't displaying any signs of being under the influence of either drink or drugs, then how can they reasonably expect you to give a sample?
On what grounds?
I won't be doing it on principle as I don't drink, at all, and certainly don't do drugs of any kind that would affect my work or safety of others.

Think each round they'll choose a random batch of staff to test. Any who refuse will probably be suspended. Probably any who refuse too many times will be sacked.