Does Kohl’s drug test? (Warning: required reading)
Many retail stores conduct thorough background checks on their employees, including drug testing, before hiring them to ensure they are not compromising the in-store customer experience.
So if you’re thinking of applying for a job at Kohl’s, you might be wondering – does Kohl’s use drug testing as part of its background checks? Here’s what I found!
Does Kohl’s drug test?
Some Kohl’s locations may conduct pre-employment drug testing of prospective employees with oral swab or urine-based drug testing. Additionally, Kohl’s can conduct on-the-job drug testing if they suspect an employee is taking a drug.
If you want to learn more about the conditions under which Kohl’s requires employees to take drug tests, the types of drug tests Kohl’s conducts, and more, keep reading!
Why does Kohl’s require employees to take drug tests?
Cole requires drug testing from potential recruits, and candidates must physically show signs of drug use or have something to follow up on in a background check.
Here are the signs that prompted Kohl’s to ask employees to take drug tests:
- Alcohol odor on body or breath
- slurred speech
- lack of stability when standing or walking
- Difficulty or inability to complete basic tasks
- disorientation or confusion
- erratic or unusual behavior
Additionally, you may be asked to take a drug test if your background check includes a history of drug use or any of the following signs:
- DUI charges with a criminal record
- drug usage fee
- drug charges
What type of drug testing does Kohl’s perform?
According to Kohl’s employees, the most commonly used drug testing methods are oral swab tests and urine samples.
Note that this may vary by store, and some stores do not do drug testing at all.
If the Kohl’s store you’re applying to uses the oral swab test, it will usually be tested during the on-site interview process.
However, if it uses a urine test, you will be sent to a drug testing facility to have the test done and report the results.
Does Kohl’s hire/retain employees who fail drug tests?
There’s no official policy on whether Kohl’s will keep employees or hire new ones with drug habits, so it’s largely up to each store manager.
Many store locations consider certain behavioral patterns and details from background checks when making their decision.
If an employee/candidate is expected to negatively impact customer experience and satisfaction, the store manager may decide not to retain/hire that individual.
How thorough was Kerr’s background check?
According to the job posting on Kohls.com, Kohl’s conducts a fairly thorough background check, which typically takes up to a week to complete.
These checks are conducted by First Advantage, the world’s leading background check company, and applicants are informed of this during the onboarding process.
As part of the inspection, Kohl’s investigates an individual’s criminal record, considering all charges, arrests and convictions when deciding whether to hire an applicant.
Does Kohl’s hire employees with negative background checks?
Kohl’s doesn’t always shy away from hiring applicants with criminal records.
It examines the nature and circumstances of all criminal activity, the number of convictions and the time elapsed since the last conviction.
If Kohl’s finds its new employee valuable enough to fit safely into its work environment, it will hire that individual to join the store workforce.
Do employees have access to Kohl’s background check data?
Because Kohl’s conducts background checks for employment purposes, the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) grants Kohl’s employees certain rights, including:
- The right to be told if information from their background checks is used against them
- The Right to Know the Results of a Background Check
- Right to Object Out-of-Date or Inaccurate Information in Reports
In addition, Kohl’s requires written consent from potential employees to submit background checks because it uses a third-party company to conduct background checks.
Please note that due to differences in state laws, FCRA rights may not apply to your situation exactly.
Therefore, it’s important that you research your state laws thoroughly to make sure you fully understand what can be brought up and used in a background check.
If you’re a Kohl’s employee, you can also read our posts about the Kohl’s dress code, the best time to shop at Kohl’s, and Kohl’s stats and facts.
in conclusion
Certain Kohl’s locations may require prospective employees to undergo drug testing based on multiple physical indicators, such as erratic or unusual behavior, and a criminal record involving drug use or sale.
If a Kohl’s store requires drug testing, the company’s most common methods are oral swabs and urine tests. Kohl’s may or may not decide to hire employees who test positive, depending on their current status.
