Random drug testing will deter drug use, which helps stop accidents and improve safety. The Florida drug-free workplace statute allows but does not require, random drug testing of employees. A random drug test is not a test based on reasonable suspicion of employee drug use, or a targeted test. Statistically random testing is truly “random” and the names of employees selected for testing were selected from a pool or list using a pre-determined rate. Each person on the list, or in the pool, has an equal chance of being selected (and could be re-selected during the year). The definition of “random” is ”made, done, or chosen without method or conscious decision.” Names cannot be selected based on employer favoritism or specific cause.

Setting up a random drug testing policy requires adding language to your Florida drug-free workplace policy. Specifically, identifying how many employees will be tested, how often and a description of the random name selection. Here is some sample language to consider: “The company will randomly drug test employees on a quarterly basis starting [date]. Employees are selected for random testing using a random number generator computer program. Each [quarter or month], on a day selected at random using the program, the HR department will pull a random selection of _____ employee names. Once the names are selected, HR will immediately notify the employees and testing must be completed on the same workday. An employee that does not complete the mandated drug test, without a legitimate reason, will be subject to discipline, up to and including immediate discharge.”

A random number generator program should be used to ensure that the employees selected for drug testing are truly random and this protects the company from allegations of discrimination and bias. Random number software uses an algorithm for generating a sequence of numbers whose properties approximate the properties of sequences of random numbers. Consultstu can serve as a third party to help you revise your drug testing policy and pull the names for your random testing. We can also generate lab authorizations for drug testing. Our computer software will generate a random date (for the month or quarter) for your drug testing and random names for testing. Call us today for more information about random drug testing services.