A common practice for employers is to drug test employees before hiring them. So, if you’re thinking about applying for a job at Publix, you might wonder if the grocery store drug tests.
Keep reading because I’m going to tell you all you need to know about Publix’s policy on drug tests and what it might be looking for if it drug tests potential employees.
Does Publix Drug Test?
Publix does drug test potential new hires using a saliva sample. Occasionally, a urine or blood test might be requested, especially if you’re under suspicion by management. Also, Publix looks for THC, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, and ecstasy in the drug tests. Failing a drug test means you won’t get the job and can’t reapply for a year.
Read further to learn when Publix might drug test employees and which drug tests it often performs on employees!
Does Publix Drug Test New Employees?
As part of the pre-employment screening process, Publix will request a drug test from potential employees.
Further, the pre-employment drug test uses a saliva sample, which provides results within 24 hours on average.
Does Publix Do Mouth Swab Drug Tests?
In most cases, Publix will only use a mouth swab drug test. Although, there’s the possibility it could request you to go to a lab and have blood drawn instead.
With that, Publix may request a blood sample if the initial test comes back inconclusive or if a supervisor suspects you of being on drugs that are not part of the standard drug test panel.
How Far Back Will a Mouth Swab Drug Test Go?
Mouth swab drug tests are not the most reliable for knowing if someone is doing drugs since they only go back about 48 hours.
Further, the mouth swab drug test might only detect drug use from the past hour or 12 hours, and it depends on the administration of the drug and whether it’s chronic drug use or not.
Does Publix Drug Test Randomly?
Publix has a policy to drug test randomly, although it’s not very common to do random drug tests.
With that, the Publix policy is to randomly drug test employees every 90 days, which is usually done using salvia.
Does Publix Drug Test For Nicotine?
No, Publix does not drug test for nicotine. Additionally, nicotine does not show up on a standard drug test.
What Does Publix Drug Test Look For?
Publix uses a standard drug test that only looks for a few of the common drugs, including:
- THC
- Cocaine
- Opioids/Opiates (such as heroin, hydrocodone, and oxycodone)
- Amphetamines (including methamphetamine)
- Ecstasy
How Long Does It Take For Publix Drug Test Results?
Since Publix uses saliva drug tests most of the time, the results come back within 24 hours or 48 hours.
However, the time will vary depending on how busy the laboratory is and whether or not the sample is positive.
That said, positive samples can take up to one week to process since they will require further testing.
Does Publix Drug Test After Work Accidents?
Yes, Publix will drug test after any work-related accident since that’s standard for worker’s compensation claims and requires either a urine or blood test.
Furthermore, if Publix finds the employee was under the influence at the time of the accident, worker’s compensation will deny the claim.
Also, Publix may fire an employee who was under the influence of drugs during an accident.
Can Publix Drug Test Based On Suspicion?
Yes, Publix has the right to drug test any employee suspected of drug use or being under the influence while on the job.
Additionally, if drug use is suspected, Publix is more likely to ask you to take a urine or blood test since they’re more accurate and can detect drugs for extended periods.
What Happens If You Fail the Publix Drug Test?
If the Publix drug test was for new hire purposes, then Publix will rescind the job offer, and you won’t get to work for the company.
On top of that, you cannot reapply for a job at Publix for one year, so you won’t be able to reapply a week later when the drugs are out of your system.
However, if you failed a drug test as an employee, termination is the most likely outcome.
That said, you could try to keep your job if you’re starting Narcotics Anonymous or making an effort to get help.
However, most of the time, you will be fired because being high on the job is a liability for Publix, and it cannot have employees endangering their safety or customers.
To know more, you can also see our posts on whether or not Publix hires at 14, whether Publix pays weekly, and if Publix price matches.