Does Whole Foods Conduct Drug Test?

Whole Foods is one of the largest retail chains in the United States. They are open to hiring felons as well which makes it a great place to apply for a job.

If you are wondering whether Whole Foods conducts drug tests on their applicants or employees then here is what you need to know.

1 Whole Foods generally does not conduct a pre-employment drug test on potential employees.

2 They do however conduct drug tests on certain employees who handle safety-sensitive jobs.

3 They also randomly conduct tests on employees for the following reasons:

Do Whole Food Employees Need To Undergo A Pre-Employment Drug Test?

Whole Foods does not have a strict law with regards to drug testing as part of their pre-employment screening. This is dependent on the location of the store and the hiring manager. It also depends on the role the individual is hired for.

Certain locations such as Mountain View and California have a mandatory pre-employment drug test screening before they hire individuals.

What Drugs Do They Test For?

Whole Foods has stringent laws concerning primary drug abuse. They run a urine test for the five popular drugs namely:

What Kind Of Drug Tests Does Whole Foods Conduct?

Whole Foods generally conducts two major kinds of drug tests, both of which are based on a urine sample. One is a urine drug test and the other is a urine drug screening.

Permission For A Urine Drug Test

Whether you have applied for a job at Whole Foods or you are already working there, if you fail a drug test then you may be terminated from the job with immediate effect.

Ideally, Whole Foods will not conduct a drug test on you unless you have given them reasons to suspect you.

Understanding Your Rights

If the screening is pre-employment then Whole Foods needs written consent to conduct a drug test on you. This permits them to check for illegal drugs in your system.

If you are working for Whole Foods you have already provided your consent for random drug testing to be conducted at any given time.

Whole Foods also reserve the right to take legal action if you test positive. Refusal to give the test can result in you being terminated instantly.

How Long Do Drugs Stay In The System?

Most employers choose a urine test because the results are quick. If you drink alcohol then you should know that alcohol doesn’t show in your system for more than 12 hours.

Even if you had a couple of drinks the previous night, you shouldn’t worry about it. Drugs tend to stay in your system for longer so you may have to face consequences.

If you are using and there is a surprise test, you could get in trouble if the test is conducted within a few days of consumption. Drugs like cocaine, codeine, heroin, and opiates can stay in your system for up to 7 days. Marijuana stays in your system for up to 30 days.

If you are on any prescription medicines, it is vital to keep your employer informed about this medication to avoid any complications.

While marijuana is legal in multiple states in the United States, Whole Foods does not encourage its consumption while on the job. You need to be clean and marijuana tends to affect your performance which could result in you getting terminated.

What Happens If You Fail A Drug Test At Whole Foods?

Whole Foods has a strict policy against the usage of drugs and if you fail the drug test the consequences can include:

1 Termination

Whole Foods is quite strict but this again depends on the supervisor in charge at the time. In most cases, you are terminated but if the supervisor believes you are a good asset to Whole Foods they will give you a warning.

This however means you will be in the spotlight at all times. Expect another surprise random drug test. If you test positive again, you will be terminated immediately.

In rare cases, if the employee has been part of the organization for a long time, Whole Foods will push for them to get admitted to rehab. They also give you the chance to resume your services once you clean up your act.

2 Reject Your Application

If your drug test was part of the pre-employment screening and you failed, this is considered a major red flag with Whole Foods. While they may give existing employees another chance, they are not that lenient with potential employees since they have no emotional connection with them.

If you fail a pre-employment screening with Whole Foods your chance of getting a job with them is slim.

Can You Justify Drug Usage?

Employers test for illegal drugs however marijuana is legal in certain states. While Whole Foods are not comfortable with it being used for leisure, certain people need it for medical treatment like glaucoma and even cancer.

If you have a valid reason for using the drug, you can try and justify the same with your employer. Whole Foods looks out for its employees. If you prove you need it, they will have no problem with you using it. For some reason, if you feel your test is a false positive and you are not consuming drugs, you can counter the test by demanding another one.

If you tested positive and were consuming, you can apologize and convince the management it won’t happen again. Some employers do give you a second chance based on your history and your value to the company.

There are certain positions however such as drivers at Whole Foods who are required to stay clean at all times for insurance purposes. Whole Foods does not take a chance with them which means if they test positive, they will be terminated without any notice.

While this may seem harsh, it is for the benefit of the employees and for everyone around them. Do not let a drug test scare you. Join the best retail team and make your second beginning successful.