48% of employers don’t test for cannabis in the pre-hire process, and many have made this choice to ensure they meet their talent acquisition and retention goals. In fact, 44% of organizations that do test for cannabis report they have faced challenges recruiting qualified candidates. Those are just a few of the findings from the latest FP Flash Survey conducted between September 23 and October 2, gathering information from nearly 1,000 employers across the country. The survey revealed seven key findings that provide an enlightening glimpse into the current state of cannabis testing, and could help you navigate this modern era.
Half of Employers Don’t Test for Cannabis
The main takeaway from this latest survey is that just about half of responding employers do not test for cannabis during the pre-hire process. 475 of the 989 responses (48%) from organizations indicated that they either no longer or have never tested for cannabis. Meanwhile, 12% of respondents said they test for cannabis at the pre-hire stage but only for some jobs, such as those that are safety-sensitive or those where a legal requirement mandates pre-hire cannabis testing. This leaves 40% of respondents reporting that they continue to test all applicants for cannabis in the pre-hire stage.
Employers on Both Coasts Less Likely to Test
It might not be a surprise to learn that employers primarily stationed on both coasts are less likely to mandate pre-hire cannabis testing than their peers across the country, while employers across the southwest and south-central part of the country are far more likely to require such testing. What percentage of employers said they do not test for cannabis during pre-hire? Here’s a breakdown by region:
Talent Acquisition and Retention are Key Reasons Why Companies Don’t Test for Cannabis
While exactly half (50%) of employers who choose not to test for cannabis do so because of state laws legalizing it, more than a third (37%) say that talent acquisition and retention are drivers that have led them not to test. Here’s a breakdown of all the reasons employers gave for not pre-hire testing for cannabis:
Employers on Both Coasts Less Likely to Test
It might not be a surprise to learn that employers primarily stationed on both coasts are less likely to mandate pre-hire cannabis testing than their peers across the country, while employers across the southwest and south-central part of the country are far more likely to require such testing. What percentage of employers said they do not test for cannabis during pre-hire? Here’s a breakdown by region:
- New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) – 66%
- Pacific (CA, OR, WA, AK, HI) – 62%
- South Atlantic (VA, WV, SC, NC, GA, FL) – 57%
- Mid-Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA, DE, DC, MD) – 52%
- Midwest (MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, SD, ND, WI, MI, IL, IN, OH) – 49%
- Mountain (NV, WY, MT, UT, CO, ID, AZ, NM) – 48%
- Southwest (OK, TX, AR, LA) – 36%
- South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) – 25%
Talent Acquisition and Retention are Key Reasons Why Companies Don’t Test for Cannabis
While exactly half (50%) of employers who choose not to test for cannabis do so because of state laws legalizing it, more than a third (37%) say that talent acquisition and retention are drivers that have led them not to test. Here’s a breakdown of all the reasons employers gave for not pre-hire testing for cannabis:
- 50% – Cannabis legalization in our state
- 37% – Talent acquisition and retention
- 25% – Company culture and values
- 19% – Administrative burdens
- 15% – Lack of safety concerns in our workplace
- 15% – Costs
- 8% – Employee pushback
- A little more than half (51%) of employers report they test for cannabis at the pre-hire stage to stay compliant with legal requirements, while about the same number (46%) continue to test because they are concerned about legal liability.
- 43% of employers report that they continue to test for cannabis because of client or industry requirements or norms, and 40% say they do so because of company culture or values.
- Only 20% say that concerns about employee productivity have led them to continue testing applicants for cannabis.