If you‘re considering working at Walmart or recently got a job offer, you may be wondering: does Walmart drug test employees?
The short answer is yes. As America‘s largest private employer, Walmart takes drug testing and safety very seriously. But don‘t worry, I‘ll explain Walmart‘s entire drug testing policy in detail so you know what to expect.
Whether you‘re applying for an entry-level retail role or management position, it’s important to understand when, why, and how Walmart conducts employee drug testing.
Failing a drug test can ruin your chances of getting hired or even cost you your job if you already work at Walmart. So keep reading to learn the key facts about Walmart drug testing that all employees and applicants should know.
When Does Walmart Perform Drug Testing?
Walmart conducts drug testing on employees and applicants in four main situations:
1. Pre-Employment Drug Screening
Walmart does not drug test retail associates like cashiers, cart attendants, or stockers before hiring.
Positions involving machinery, vehicles, and hazardous equipment often require a pre-employment drug test. This includes roles in Pharmacies, Auto Care Centers, Deli, and Management.
You will receive notice of a required drug test after accepting a conditional job offer. Testing is performed at a lab facility.
Failing a pre-employment drug test rescinds the job offer.
2. Random Drug Testing
All Walmart employees are subject to random drug screening to promote safety.
Employees are selected randomly by computer and given short notice (usually 24 hours) to complete testing.
Refusing or failing a random test can result in immediate termination.
3. Reasonable Suspicion Testing
If a manager suspects an employee is intoxicated at work, they can require a reasonable suspicion drug test.
Testing is mandated if an employee shows physical, behavioral, or performance issues indicating drug use.
Reasonable suspicion testing must be completed within 24 hours of request. Refusal can lead to termination.
4. Post-Accident Testing
Employees directly involved in workplace accidents may be required to take post-accident drug tests, regardless of fault.
Testing helps determine whether intoxication contributed to the accident. Law enforcement may get involved in serious incidents.
Failing or refusing post-accident testing often leads to immediate termination.
Now that you know when Walmart drug tests, let’s look at the testing methods and procedures.
How Does Walmart Conduct Drug Testing?
Urine analysis is the sole drug testing method used across all Walmart locations. Here are some key facts about the urine drug test process:
Employees provide a urine sample at a designated lab or collection site.
The sample is screened for traces of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and other intoxicants.
Results are available within 1-2 days and reviewed for any evidence of substance use or tampering.
Walmart follows rigorous chain of custody procedures to ensure accuracy and prevent test manipulation.
I‘ll provide some tips to pass your Walmart urine drug test later in this article. First, let‘s discuss consequences of failing a drug test.
What Happens If You Fail a Walmart Drug Test?
Failing any required Walmart drug test has serious repercussions:
Pre-employment: The job offer gets rescinded if you fail the pre-employment drug screening.
Current employees: Failing a drug test may result in immediate termination of employment. However, some locations offer employees a "second chance" to get clean and retest.
In all cases, refusing a mandatory Walmart drug test leads to disqualification from employment or termination.
Fortunately, Walmart‘s drug testing policies are quite reasonable for most retail positions. However, it‘s important to avoid marijuana, opioids, illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription medications if you want to work for Walmart.
Next, let‘s go over some tips for passing Walmart‘s drug screening process.
Tips for Passing Walmart‘s Drug Test
Here are some best practices for ensuring you pass any required pre-employment, random, post-accident, or reasonable suspicion drug test administered at Walmart:
Avoid drug use for 1-3 weeks before your test depending on the substance.
Stick to water and clear fluids before testing to dilute urine. Avoid alcohol and chemicals that can affect results.
Take B12 and creatine supplements to normalize urine color.
Don‘t use someone else‘s urine or attempt to falsify your sample. This can lead to disqualification and legal issues.
Request a retest if you believe your positive result was inaccurate or tampered with.
For current employees, consider drug counseling and rehab to avoid termination if you fail.
With preparation and common sense, the vast majority of employees pass Walmart‘s testing without issues. Abstaining from drug use for a few weeks is advised to guarantee you pass pre-employment screening.
Next, let‘s go over Walmart‘s selection of at-home drug testing products.
Does Walmart Sell At-Home Drug Tests?
Yes, Walmart offers a variety of at-home drug test kits you can buy online and in many retail locations.
These convenient tests allow anyone to screen themselves or family members for drug use in the privacy of home. Some types of at-home tests sold at Walmart include:
| At-Home Drug Test Type | What They Test For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Urine tests | THC, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, etc. | $8 – $25 |
| Saliva tests | THC, opioids, meth, amphetamines | $8 – $15 |
| Hair follicle tests | Drug use from past 90+ days | $10 – $75 |
While Walmart doesn‘t allow at-home test results for employment purposes, these kits let people anonymously check their own drug test status. They can provide peace of mind and help gauge your likelihood of passing Walmart‘s screening.
How Does Walmart Compare to Other Retailers?
Walmart has one of the more moderate stances on employee drug testing in the retail industry. Here‘s a quick comparison to other major chains:
Target: Very similar policies to Walmart. Only tests select pre-employment roles and after accidents.
Amazon: Pre-employment testing required for all warehouse employees due to machinery. No random tests.
Home Depot: Also does not randomly test or screen most hourly employees without reason.
Lowe‘s: Requires pre-employment tests for loss prevention roles but seldom tests other positions.
Overall, most big retailers only screen select job types to balance safety and talent acquisition. None aim to test all employees unlike some transportation, energy, and defense companies.
The Bottom Line
The vast majority of hourly employees and managers avoid drug testing when working at Walmart. However, be prepared for screening if applying for jobs in Pharmacies, Transportation, Auto Care, Deli, Management, etc.
Avoid illegal and prescription drug misuse before pre-employment tests. Always comply with random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident screening. With preparation and common sense, you should have no issues passing Walmart‘s standard 5-panel urine drug tests.
I hope this inside guide has addressed all your concerns about does Walmart drug test across different roles. Now you can make an informed decision about pursuing a career at Walmart stores and clubs nationwide.
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