Pre-Employment Drug Screens in California

[sandiego3321]

My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: California

I recently received an employment offer with a large bank. My offer letter says my employment is contingent upon a background check and fingerprinting with no mention of a drug screen. My question is: are private employers in California required to disclose pre-employment drug screening in the offer letter? I'd rather not go in for finger printing and get surprised with "time to pee in this cup"...

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Beth3]

My question is: are private employers in California required to disclose pre-employment drug screening in the offer letter?

No. If the employer requires a pre-employment drug screen, it would be unusual not to mention this in the offer letter but they aren't obligated to do so.

[Betty3]

Agree, there is no law that says the employer must mention in the offer letter that there will be a pre-employment drug screen.

[NYI310]

I have worked for a few large banks in California. A drug test was required on each of them. I do not recall if that was mentioned specifically in the offer letter.

Even if it were not. It is a reasonable expectation that a background check would include a drug test.

However, you can rest assured, you will not be asked to “piss in a cup” when you arrive for your finger prints. The tests are performed at two separate locations.

If a drug test is required, you will be given a lab slip at some point, along with a list of labs at which you can have the test completed. You will be told to make an appointment at one of those labs before a set date.

You can always call HR and ask if they do drug screenings. You can just say “I thought a drug screening was part of the background process, but I didn’t receive any information on where or when the test should be done.”

Good luck, I hope it works out.