Does Wegmans Drug Test?

Does Wegman’s drug test? Let’s find out!

Working at Wegmans is not like working at other supermarkets or grocery stores. Wegmans is focused on being the best place to shop for their customers and the best place to work for their employees.

The family-owned retailer is famous for its high standards, and as you might expect, pay, benefits, and opportunities for Wegmans staff are among the best you’ll find at a grocery retailer.

If you’re eager to join the Wegmans team, you want to know how those high standards apply to the Wegmans hiring process when it comes to drug tests.

Does Wegmans Drug Test Applicants For Retail Positions?

When you apply for a position at one of Wegmans stores, you should expect to be asked to take a drug test.

Having a healthy workforce is important for Wegmans and they have a number of free and subsidized health and wellness initiatives that you can benefit from once you become a member of the Wegmans team.

A healthy workforce is a productive workforce, and that productivity translates into profits, so it’s no surprise that the retailer doesn’t want to hire workers with substance abuse issues.

Wegmans takes good health so seriously that in 2008, they even stopped selling tobacco products in their stores.

In the past, Wegman’s only drug tested full-time employees and pharmacy staff, but recently they made a change, and now all applicants have to pass a drug test.

The drug test will be carried out after you’ve successfully completed the interview process and received and accepted a conditional offer of employment.

Does Wegmans Drug Test Warehouse Applicants?

Warehouses can be dangerous environments to work in, with lots of large machinery loading, unloading, and moving heavy loads.

Wegmans need to drug test every warehouse applicant to make sure their warehouses are safe places for all employees.

You’ll need to pass a drug test once you’ve received and accepted a conditional offer of employment.

What Type Of Drug Test Does Wegmans Use?

Wegmans are unusual in the type of drug test that they carry out. Most companies will do saliva or urine drug tests, but Wegmans carry out hair follicle drug testing.

However, if you’re applying to their newest store location in Washington D.C. you won’t take a hair test because they are prohibited, instead, you’ll take a urine test.

When a hair sample is tested for drugs, illegal substances can be detected for up to 90 days after your last use. Hair testing makes it virtually impossible for regular drug users to pass a drug test.

There is some good news though. Wegmans doesn’t currently test for marijuana for retail job applicants or employees.

However, warehouse workers will be tested for marijuana because of the safety issues already mentioned.

At Wegmans the hair follicle drug test looks for the following drugs:

• Marijuana
• Opiates
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines and methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Because hair follicle drug tests aren’t common for employment drug tests, you might not be familiar with the testing process. Here’s a quick run-through of what to expect when you go to take your test.

You’ll need to report to a local clinic to provide your sample. Wegmans employees state that these are walk-in clinics and you don’t need to make an appointment. The HR department at the store will give you all of the paperwork you need for the clinic.

A technician will clip up to 150 hairs from your head for testing. The clip was as close to the scalp as they can and will need to use hair that’s 1.5 inches long. If you’re bald or shaved, they’ll take body hair from your chest or armpit instead.

Once they have all of the hair they need, your sample will be packaged up and sent to a lab for testing.

At the lab, your sample is tested using an ELISA screening test. If your sample is negative for drugs, the testing process is complete. If it’s positive, confirmatory testing will be carried out using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Urine Testing

For job applicants taking a urine test, you’ll provide a sample at a local clinic. You’ll be given a sample cup and asked to go into a private bathroom.

Toilets have blue dye added to the toilet bowl and toilet tank so that you can’t use any water to dilute the urine sample. The water at the washbasin will be shut off for the same reason.

Substance detection windows for urine tests are much shorter than those for hair follicle tests.

• Opiates – up to 4 days since last use
• Marijuana – up to 30 days (longer with heavy use)
• Cocaine – up to 4 days since last use
• Amphetamines and methamphetamine – up to 4 days since last use
• Phencyclidine (PCP) – up to 14 days since last use

Do Wegmans Carry Out Any Other Drug Tests?

You could be asked to take a drug test while you’re employed at Wegmans if you appear to be under the influence of drugs at work, if you have an accident, or if you violate any of the provisions in their drugs and alcohol policy.

We’ve checked the Wegmans employee handbook for information about their drug and alcohol policy. Under the policy, you are prohibited from:

• Buying, selling, using, being under the influence of, possessing, manufacturing, or dispensing illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia.
• Consuming or being under the influence of alcohol.
• Consuming alcohol while wearing your Wegmans uniform.
• Abusing intoxicants, inhalants, and OTC medication.
• Buying, selling, dispensing, or illegally using prescription drugs.
• Selling or sharing prescription medications with another employee.
• Working while impaired because of OTC or prescription drug use.

You should also know that Wegmans can carry out searches of your personal property or your person to look for drugs, drug paraphernalia, and alcohol.

If any of these items are found, you will be subject to a disciplinary procedure which can include termination. If illegal drugs are found, law enforcement may be informed.

Related Article: How To Find Out If A Company Drug Tests?

Benefits Of Working For Wegmans

Wegmans is a top-rated employer, and the company has won numerous awards over the years. Since 2015, they’ve held the number one spot on Fortune Magazine’s list of the ‘15 Best Workplaces in Retail’. And they’ve featured on Fortune’s list of ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ every year since 1998, with 2022 seeing Wegmans listed as the 3rd best company.

Starting pay for entry-level part-time positions is $15 an hour and full-time workers average around $18 an hour.

Warehouse staff can receive a sign-on bonus of $1500 depending on the location.

Wegmans offers employees paid vacation, child care assistance, scholarships, affordable health cover, a 401(k) retirement plan with a 50% contribution match, an employee assistance program, employee discount, premium pay on Sundays and holidays, and flexible scheduling.

Because Wegmans always prefers to promote from within, you’ll have good opportunities to move forward with your career.

And if you’re working in the food service side of their store operations, you’ll get training that surpasses anything you would receive in most restaurants.

As a member of the Wegmans team, you can take advantage of free and subsidized health and wellness programs, which include health screenings, yoga classes, Zumba classes, 5k coached training groups, and nutrition coaching.

Summary

Wegmans, with its strong focus on employee health and wellbeing, have adopted a more thorough drug testing method than many other employers. Hair drug testing is thought to be impossible to cheat, and detox shampoos don’t work.

Passing a hair follicle drug test isn’t going to be possible if you’re a regular drug user unless you abstain for 90 days before making your application.

While Wegmans retail employees aren’t tested for marijuana, Wegmans’ distribution workers will need to pass a drug test which includes a screen for marijuana because of the safety-sensitive warehouse environment.

Since Wegmans is an employer committed to healthy living initiatives, the company would be a great choice for you if you’re interested in improving your overall health and fitness.

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