Posted on 07/29/2017 3:26:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
HUBBARD, Ohio An Ohio factory owner said Saturday that though she has blue-collar jobs available at her company, she struggles to fill positions because so many candidates fail drug tests.
Regina Mitchell, a co-owner of Warren Fabricating & Machining in Hubbard, Ohio, told The New York Times this week that four out of 10 applicants otherwise qualified to be welders, machinists and crane operators will fail a routine drug test.
In an interview Saturday with CNNs Michael Smerconish, Mitchell said that her requirements for prospective workers were simple.
I need employees who are engaged in their work while here, of sound mind and doing the best possible job that they can, keeping their fellow co-workers safe at all times, she said....
(Excerpt) Read more at fox8.com ...
No one wants to hire a junkie.
Mike Rowe has been pounding this issue for 15 years now. Kids have been told by their parents to go to college so they don't have to work their lives in the factories.
Wayne Huizenga made his fortune in the trash industry. There are stories of welders, HVAC technicians, and electricians who are debt-free, bought their homes in cash and make over $100 grand a year. This skills gap problem will worsen over time, because millenials are studying the evils of white America in universities.
Misleading headline, by intent.
‘Few sober applicants’ but 60% apparently pass the drug test.
High schools and community colleges used to teach some practical skills. Today most high schools don’t. And many community college programs that prepared people for work have similarly been gutted - - the funds going for “college prep” and “bonehead”/ remedial classes - and English as Second Language classes.
But it’s not as if I see a lot of guys going to college.
I went to my daughter’s orientation at Texas Tech. It looks like at least 60-70% of the incoming students are women. Where are the guys?
I audited, helped write and brought into compliance safety manuals with all kinds of businesses, hospitals, manufacturers, trucking co’s. etc. I went to one office to audit and when I asked if they had a program to teach, encourage and test for drugs and/ or alcohol the safety guy stood and pointed down to the floor below and said “There are 200 people down there. I doubt 30 are truly sober right now.” He explained the cost of WC insurance is a lot higher but at least he is still in business. Can’t fault him for that. Exactly what the libs were aiming for.
Heard similar in Michigan. They’ve got tons of construction jobs that they can’t fill. People can’t go the simple math or pass a drug test to get through apprentice training. High paying union jobs.
The electronics recycling industry will.
When hasn’t it been a problem? I remember the advice to make sure your car was built on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday since the workers where hungover on Monday and calling off or inattentive on Friday.
I ran a business with only doing drug testing for cause. But when I tested it was using hair. It meant I hired users but fired them if their usage caused problems. Flunking the hair test (which is nearly infallible) ends, in many states, rights to unemployment and worker’s comp.
Anyone who administers a pee test is just engaged in kabuki theater.
Failing a drug test doesn’t equal not sober. Marajuana stays in the system for up to a month, while the high only lasts a few hours at most. Imagine if alcohol tests came back positive if you had a couple of beers two weeks ago. Until they get a test that quantifies the amount of THC in the bloodstream it’s disqualifying millions who wouldn’t show up stoned for work but like to use in their off time. That’s up to them if they want to do that, but don’t whine when you can’t find workers.
I had a few eye problems that I was born with, colorblindness and being severely nearsighted among them.
In high school auto shop, trying to learn to weld, I caught hell. The principles were straight-forward enough but the execution was different.
Thanks to LASIK many years ago that’s still holding up very well, I look forward to trying the little home mig welding unit I got for my birthday.
I tested very high in electricity and electronics but being colorblind, so much for that in terms of careers.
Funny thing I worked in TV production and engineering for about a decade and was never questioned. I was good friends with the vectorscope and waveform monitor.
I usually got compliments on my lighting, photos and videography. So there is that much.
The hardware side of the IT field has been pretty kind to me. I got tired of professional poverty being in public broadcasting.
Being sober for me means for example shedding 30 pounds in eight years among other things. It means eating less and working more physically instead of goofing off on the job.
Some signs of “drunk” can be detected easily, but others are tough.
I remember the movie, "Blue Collar" with Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel.
Vo Tech Schools should be what parents send their kids...my brother in law and a brother in law once removed when to vo Tech school for high school and they started a home building business after they graduated. My BIL once removed is now a town planner for a small town in CT... BIL still building homes in MA, CT, NY and RI...
Misleading headline, by intent.
Few sober applicants but 60% apparently pass the drug test.
...
The article is worse. The owner says she can’t find anybody who is sober. Fake News.
Until somebody gets hurt because of an employee who is using, then getting sued.
for my own business, I have to drug test. It’s a liability issue. If someone is hurt, or if damage is done to property, I drug test. I drug test at hiring, because if you can’t stay clean enough to get hired, you are probably going to be a problem down the road. (It’s also a requirement for my insurance)
If one of my guys injures someone while on the clock, it is my company that is liable. He may also be liable, but my company will pay a big cost. I can’t say “sorry, he was on pot, so maybe we should let this go... I mean it’s his right to be stoned out of his gourd or drunk while operating heavy machinery...”. That just don’t fly.
It just is what it is. Maybe if I was a florist, it would be a different story.
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