Cher Forman
"Ask Cher"
Cher Forman has over 20 years of domestic and international Human Resources experience in organizations ranging from startups to $3B. As Director or Vice President, she has managed Human Resources groups at Applied Materials, Stanford Telecom, Ask Computer Systems, Teledex and Tri-Data Corporation and consulted on H.R. philosophy, values and infrastructure with many start-ups as well. Cher has managed several of these firms through rapid expansion and significant organizational challenges. While at Applied Materials, she led her business unit as the company grew from 6,000 to 16,000 employees in three years. Ms. Forman has specific expertise in employment, corporate legal compliance, development of cost effective compensation/benefit strategies, organization development and international HR management. She has a degree in Organization Behavior from the University of San Francisco and has participated in advanced training at several other colleges and universities.
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Background Checks part 4 Drug Tests and Health Issues
September 02, 2011 by Cher Forman
Question:
Dear Cher:
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Background checks seem quite mysterious and scary. What are companies doing in this regard these days? (answer part 4 of 4)
San Mateo Job Support Group
Answer:
Dear Readers:
Dear Cher:
Background checks seem quite mysterious and scary. What are companies doing in this regard these days? (answer part 4 of 4) San Mateo Job Support Group
Answer:
Dear Readers:
Following is part 4 of the answer I gave our colleagues in San Mateo
Drug Test & Health Issues
Drug tests
Not all companies require drug tests, but many of them do. Employers can require drug tests before employment for many reasons. A drug test can be a way of evaluating potential employee performance, an attempt to control workers compensation costs, or a way to ensure the upholding of corporate ethics. If an employer requires drug testing you can refuse it, but that will make it less likely that you will be hired.
While there are several different types of drug tests that employment candidates may be asked to take, the most common method of drug testing is urinalysis. It is less expensive than other methods and can detect frequent or recent drug use. If drug testing concerns you, be sure to look it up on the internet or ask your doctor to learn about it in more depth.
If you have been successful in the past in similar positions while regularly taking some strong drug, prescription or not, you may feel able to handle a new job under the same circumstances. Just know that even if you believe you can perform your job well while drinking or using illegal drugs, doing so while at work is usually cause for dismissal. This is not a gray area in most parts of the country, so be honest with yourself about whether you can give an employer a full day’s work in a professional manner before you accept a new position. If you can’t, don’t set yourself up for failure.
Health issues
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a qualified applicant with a disability. Companies cannot request medical records and may not make hiring decisions based on an applicant’s disability. The main concern about any health issue is, will it affect the applicants’ ability to do the job. If you know you can do the job for which you are applying, just say no.
If you haven’t already, talk to a health professional if you have questions about your health as it relates to your current job capabilities. Ask if there are certain types of work in which your performance could be affected due to a health issue you may be dealing with. If the answer is not really clear, find out who to talk to in your Dr’s medical community for counsel about workplace accommodations that could be made to make your ability to do this job as good as (or better than) anyone else. Then you will be ready to confidently answer an interviewer who asks if you have any health issue that will affect your ability to do the job. The answer will be no.
Overall, my advice is to not tell an employer any more than you need to about health issues until, or unless, it becomes necessary. If you haven’t worked in a while and aren’t sure you can really handle a full time schedule, but won’t know until you try, and you want to try, go for it. If you have done it before, and have no trouble visualizing yourself as a success in the position you desire, chances are high you’ll blend right back into the required schedule and routine.
A final word about background checks
Just so you know, it is absolutely normal to be concerned about background checks. Most people have some concern about what will show up. Usually it’s not a problem. But if you are sincerely worried about a certain area, treat the worry like a job. Find out what information your records may contain, do what you can to have the records adjusted if they are not correct. Most of all, be prepared to explain to the interviewer before the background check, anything you think may show up as a negative. It’s best not to surprise the employer with something in the check. If you mention it first, no one will think you were hiding something.
Good luck in your search for the next challenge.
Cher Forman, Vice President
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