Pubdate: Mon, 07 Aug 2000
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2000 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
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Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm
Author: Stephanie Armour, USA Today

TIGHT JOB MARKET MEANS FIRMS DROP TESTING

Companies are quietly dropping controversial employment tests such as drug 
screenings, medical exams and psychological exams -- a sharp reversal from 
the early 1990s when such testing was the rage.

More employers are dropping the exams amid growing fears job seekers in 
today's tight labor market will snub firms that require such tests.

Others are questioning the effectiveness of employee screenings or facing 
lawsuits from workers who say the exams go too far.

"Companies are adjusting to a tight labor market," says Eric Greenberg, an 
American Management Association (AMA) spokesman. "If you've got an 
absolutely critical position you need filled and the person shows up dirty 
on a test for marijuana, you may regret you ever asked. You're dealing with 
a situation where you don't have the luxury to pick and choose."

The number of firms using psychological measurements has dropped from 52% 
in 1998 to 33%, based on a recent poll by the AMA of 2,133 firms. Companies 
requiring drug testing of current employees have fallen from 62% in 1997 to 
47% this year, the study found.

Behind the shift:

Workers are speaking out against some tests. Last month , Rent-A-Center 
settled a class-action lawsuit brought by workers who felt questions in a 
psychological test went too far. Some of the 502 true-false questions 
included "I believe there is a God," "I have no difficulty starting or 
holding my bowel movement" and "I have never indulged in any unusual sex 
practices," according to the lawsuit.

The Plano, Texas-based firm will pay $2 million in damages and discontinue 
using the psychological test at its 2,500 stores, a lawyer for the workers 
says. A Rent-A-Center spokesman declined to comment on the case.

"It was absurd," says Scott Hadley, 37, in San Francisco, a former manager 
who filed suit. "I was offended someone would ask me these questions."

Employers don't want to reduce the pool of available hires. Companies 
struggling to find workers don't want to weed out potential applicants or 
deter applicants with tests, experts say.

And many job seekers do shy away from some screenings. If asked to submit 
to a psychological test, nearly 15% of job seekers would either take it 
reluctantly or politely refuse the tests, based on a new poll by 
CareerBuilder. And 12% would end the interview immediately and leave.

"If you're driving people away, that's tricky in this job market," says 
Barry Lawrence, a spokesman at the Reston, Va.-based online career site. 
"In a job market where you're doing everything to bring people in, it's a 
quagmire for employers."

Decreasing drug use among employees. The number of employees testing 
positive for drug use has dropped to the lowest level in 11 years, 
according to Quest Diagnostics, a Teterboro, N.J.-based provider of 
diagnostic testing that compiles statistics semiannually for clients. The 
company performs 10 million drug tests a year.
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