Thursday, 23rd February 2012
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| Plan to drug test Ashburton workers |
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By Erin Tasker November 18 2011
The seminar has been highlighted in the media following an announcement this week of a National Party crackdown on beneficiaries with drug habits. The 18 per cent said there was no point in attending as they would fail a workplace drugs test, with Ms Bennett saying such people should have their benefits cut. The news came as no surprise to an Ashburton employment consultant, who plans to begin drug testing all people he puts forward for jobs next year. Matt Jones from Canstaff said he dealt with an average of one person a month who had failed a drug tests after being placed with a client. But he believed the figures – that 13 of the 74 young people who were invited to the seminar said they would fail a drugs test – may be somewhat distorted. "It's a high number but it's probably a distorted number because of the low unemployment in Mid Canterbury," Mr Jones said. Unemployment in Mid Canterbury was under 1 per cent. Mr Jones said up until now, the drug testing of workers Canstaff placed in jobs was dependent on the client. "We drug test most people we put out, but next year we have plans to drug test everyone we put in a job," Mr Jones said. He said it would lessen the number of people walking through the doors of his office, but that was a good thing. It meant only suitable people would be put into jobs. "Then we know we are putting out clean, safe people, who can actually do a good day's work," Mr Jones said. The increased drug testing would hit the company in the pocket – with testing costing around $100 per person – but it would be worth it. "We want staff who are not going to have accidents. "There's too many accidents through people affected by drugs in the workplace," Mr Jones said.
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