Does Costco do drug testing? (all you need to know)
Costco’s reputation for competitive employee salaries is a great retailer worth working for, which may spark interest in working for the retailer.
But many potential employees may wonder whether Costco requires drug testing, both as part of the pre-employment interview process and as part of the work environment. Here’s what I know about Costco drug testing.
Does Costco do drug testing?
Costco conducts drug testing for illegal substances before employment and during orientation. In addition, a negative drug test is mandatory for employment opportunities. Costco strives to provide a safe shopping and working environment with a strict drug- and alcohol-free workplace policy.
To learn more about which employees take the Costco drug test, what happens if you fail your drug test at Costco, and how often you get drug tested at Costco, keep reading!
What types of drug tests does Costco do?
Costco typically chooses to test their employees using a mouth swab drug test, which reportedly takes 5-10 minutes.
With a swab test, the drug can be detected within an hour of use and remains detectable for 5-48 hours after use, meaning Costco can carefully screen its employees.
Typically, Costco will ask potential employees to take a mouth swab drug test on the spot and then during the interview process.
The on-site process reduces the possibility of fraudulent activity regarding drug testing during Costco interviews.
What drugs does Costco test?
Like most pre-employment drug tests, Costco will test for substances such as marijuana, amphetamines, opioids and phencyclidine.
In addition, Costco may test for other substances not included above.
What Happens During a Costco Drug Test?
Costco will test their employees for substance and alcohol use.
After Costco employees sign a consent form, they will be shipped or taken to an off-site location where professional drug testing can be performed.
Once complete, the results are returned directly to Costco for evaluation and tamper protection.
Based on the drug test results, Costco will decide what happens next for the employee or potential employee.
How often are Costco drug tests done?
Costco reserves the right to drug test all employees as specified in the contract regarding the drug-free policy.
Costco can also inspect all parts of its premises for drug or alcohol-related paraphernalia, such as lockers and personal items.
Costco routinely conducts drug testing for the following reasons: to verify an employee’s eligibility to work at Costco during an interview, after suspicious behavior on the job, after an accident on the job, or before returning to work.
Employees must pass a drug test to be eligible to work at Costco.
Does Costco drug test all employees?
All applicants and employees at Costco must comply with and agree to drug testing as it is a mandatory requirement for them to work at Costco.
This allows Costco to ensure that all employees adhere to the anti-drug policy.
Once Costco employees complete a drug test during their interview, Costco will not retest them unless the retailer deems it necessary due to an event such as an accident.
Will I be fired if I fail a drug test at Costco?
Yes, Costco can terminate your employment with their company if you fail a drug test because it does not comply with their zero tolerance policy.
Costco employees who fail a drug test will be disciplined accordingly and terminated.
Costco employees who fail a drug test are only eligible for rehire after completing a series of assessments outlined by Costco, which may include counseling, treatment and rehabilitation.
Costco employees who are tested for alcohol drugs and have a concentration between 0.02 and 0.399 are not considered positive. However, they will be fired that day.
The employee will be coming home from get off work at Costco and must use their personal time to make up for the absence.
Costco could be severely impacted, threatening the job security of repeat offenders.
Can I pass a Costco drug test for legal substances?
If you fail a Costco drug test because of a drug prescribed by your doctor, as long as you tell Costco about it, you’ll be fine.
However, with legal substances such as marijuana, Costco can refuse to hire you because they believe that marijuana use is not a legitimate medical explanation.
Even if marijuana is legalized in your state, you could be denied a job at Costco because it’s still illegal on a federal basis.
Can I decline a drug test at Costco?
While you can refuse a Costco drug test, they have the legal right to refuse to hire you. A negative drug test is a requirement of Costco’s employees.
Costco applicants who refuse to comply with mandatory drug testing may be fired and will not be able to reapply to work at Costco for a full year.
Costco employees may be fired if they refuse to take a drug test after an incident on the job, such as an accident.
To learn more about working at Costco, you can check out our related posts on the Costco dress code, Costco bereavement policy, whether Costco delivery drivers get tipped, and some interesting Costco stats.
Conclusion: Does Costco do drug testing?
Costco strictly enforces its zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol with its employees on its premises.
Costco ensures that every potential employee is drug tested and will test employees on a regular basis to ensure they meet standards and fulfill the drug-free agreement in their contracts.
Employees or potential employees who refuse or fail a drug test may be fired, even for legal substances. Make sure your values match their ethos when applying to Costco for the best chance of success.
