The ethics of drug testing has become an increased concern for many companies .
More companies are beginning to use it and more people are starting .
more to have problems with it. The tests are now more than ever seen as a way to stop the .
problems of drug abuse in the workplace. This brings up a very large question. Is drug .
testing an ethical way to decide employee drug use? It is also very hard to decide if the .
test is an invasion of employee privacy. "The ethical status of workplace drug testing can .
be expressed as a question of competing interests, between the employer's right to use .
testing to reduce drug related harms and maximize profits, over against the employee's .
right to privacy, particularly with regard to drug use which occurs outside the .
workplace." (Cranford 2) The rights of the employee have to be considered. The Supreme .
Court case, Griswold vs. Connecticut outlines the idea that every person is entitled to a .
privacy zone. However this definition covers privacy and protection from government. .
To work productively especially when the work may be physical it is nearly impossible to .
keep one's privacy. The relationship between employer and employee is based on a .
contract. The employee provides work for the employer and in return he is paid. If the .
employee cannot provide services because of problems such as drug abuse, then he is .
violating the contract. Employers have the right to know many things about their .
employees. The employer can even investigate Job skills and training. The .
employee is to perform services and these services must be done in a certain manner. .
Someone who is incoherent because of drug abuse cannot be a pilot for example. This is .
why employers can test to see if characteristics or tendencies would affect performance. .
An employee may not want to give a urine or blood sample. The employee may not want .
to include all of their references but this is besides the fact that an employer is entitled to .
