Job interviews: Testing for drugs and alcohol from a lock of hair - General Discussion

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 12:36

just wondering if anyone else has heard of this. my friend had an interview last week and they cut off some of her hair at the scalp to do a drugs test, i was horrified! it was quite a big chunk as well. and on radio 1 news this lunchtime there was a feature about it, though they didn't mention drugs, only alcohol. apparently it's so employers can see if you have been out drinking the night before, and the alcohol stays in your hair a lot longer than your body. Now, if they wanted to see if you are irresponsable and unreliable enough to go on a drinking binge the night before an interview, surely they could breathalise you rather than doing this expensive procedure? (I think they said it was £350 a pop). And what does it matter if you got drunk a few months ago? And would people with longer hair be penalised because they can find things that they wouldn't find in someone with a crop?

I don't think i would let anyone cut my hair for a job, i would rather they took out my blood and prodded me, anything but touch my hair! perhaps that's vain but... i don't take drugs and barely touch alcohol but i think my protest would suggest i did.

there was a man at my friends interview who had no hair, so they said they can take it from his armpit, which is gross. but he shaved them as well so i have no idea what they did then!

24-04-2007, 12:38

How bizarre.

I'm not sure I'd fancy working for a company that was that paranoid :S

Inkblot · 24-04-2007, 12:38

How could alcohol you drank a few hours ago get into hair that grew weeks or months ago? Sounds like bad science.

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inkblot

How could alcohol you drank a few hours ago get into hair that grew weeks or months ago? Sounds like bad science.

yea it all sounded like nonsense to me. the man who developed the scanner said it's great because you can see instances of alcohol consumption over a long period of time, but why would you need to? it's not illegal to drink so i think it's a bit unnecessary.

24-04-2007, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inkblot

How could alcohol you drank a few hours ago get into hair that grew weeks or months ago? Sounds like bad science.

Indeed.

I can see the value in doing this kind of testing if someone wants to know whether a person regularly uses drugs over an extended period of time.

Although I would assume that you have to give signed permission. It's not the kind of thing that anyone would be allowed to do, just wander up with a pair of shears and take some hair off!

Milky Joe · 24-04-2007, 12:43

Hair contains information about drugs you have taken since it grew, this much is true.

Was the company your friend applied for quite "responsible"? Like something for MI5, government nuclear things, anything protected like that. I could only imagine those types of businesses doing it.

A friend of mine went for an interview with a government company that requires you to sign the secrets act or whatever it is, she cant even tell me what her real job title is, only the fake cover one they gave her. In her interview they asked her all sorts of bizzare questions to see how she dealt with awkwardness, really personal things, such as "have you ever had sex with more than 1 person at once" "with a member of the same sex" etc...obviously they dont discriminate on this but it was to see how they reacted under such weird conditions.

maimou · 24-04-2007, 12:44

If someone tried to do that to me at an interview I'd walk out, no job is worth that type of intrusive indignity!

24-04-2007, 12:47

Never heard of that before! What kind of job was she going for? Was it something that required a high level of security checks? Like working in an airport or something.

Luxxy · 24-04-2007, 12:48

It must have been an MI5 job surely? Not sure what other employer would go to such extreme lengths?

grotbags1975 · 24-04-2007, 12:50

cocaine is present in the hair folicle for 90 days - seems a bit extreme for a job interview or infact even if you were in the job.

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milky Joe

Hair contains information about drugs you have taken since it grew, this much is true.

Was the company your friend applied for quite "responsible"? Like something for MI5, government nuclear things, anything protected like that. I could only imagine those types of businesses doing it.

A friend of mine went for an interview with a government company that requires you to sign the secrets act or whatever it is, she cant even tell me what her real job title is, only the fake cover one they gave her. In her interview they asked her all sorts of bizzare questions to see how she dealt with awkwardness, really personal things, such as "have you ever had sex with more than 1 person at once" "with a member of the same sex" etc...obviously they dont discriminate on this but it was to see how they reacted under such weird conditions.

Lol it wasn't MI5 unless she was lying to me! it was for a government organisation though. and she did have the sex life questions (i would so crack under pressure, more at how dull my sex life is more than anything else!) etc.

I understand to a certain extent the government, aiports, security etc needing to do this, but the radio one report seemed to suggest it's becoming more popular with private sector employers wanting to delve into the lifestyles and private lives of candidates, especially those who send their employees abroad. I know they give warning of the procedure but what if you said no? would they offer you an alternative or just reject you? and someone with short hair can get away with stuff they did in their shady past whereas a long-haired person can't! it's just grossly unfair!

24-04-2007, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninteen

I know they give warning of the procedure but what if you said no? would they offer you an alternative or just reject you? and someone with short hair can get away with stuff they did in their shady past whereas a long-haired person can't! it's just grossly unfair!

Here's an explanation of how drug testing hair works:

The presence of drugs in hair is based on a simple principle. Drugs which are ingested into the body circulate in a person's bloodstream which nourishes developing hair follicles. As a result, trace amounts of the target drug or drug metabolite are deposited in the hair follicle and become entrapped in the core of the hair shaft as it grows out from the hair follicle. Normal growth rates for human hair are approximately one-half inch per month. By testing for the presence of drugs at various levels in the hair shaft core on a given length of hair, a fairly accurate approximation can then be made as to how long a particular drug has been used historically. Since target drug or drug metabolite residues are chemically and structurally stable for a period of time, they cannot be easily washed, bleached or flushed out of the hair structure. Consequently there is little possibility of sample contamination or manipulation. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) forensic laboratory analysis of the hair shaft from an individual can achieve highly accurate drug test results and provide a historical use record. Generally it takes approximately 5 days for drugs to show up in a person's hair and will continue to be detectable in new hair growth for several months.

Like DNA, you can get a lot from the follicle. And, regardless of whether the hair is long or short, you can still detect it.

Milky Joe · 24-04-2007, 13:06

ninteen - this government organisation wasnt based in Berkshire was it?

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milky Joe

ninteen - this government organisation wasnt based in Berkshire was it?

is cheltenham in berkshire?

i'm not good with counties!

edit: nope, gloucestershire!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oinster

Like DNA, you can get a lot from the follicle. And, regardless of whether the hair is long or short, you can still detect it.

Ooh, very interesting!

Milky Joe · 24-04-2007, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninteen

is cheltenham in berkshire?

i'm not good with counties!

edit: nope, gloucestershire!

Ooh, very interesting!

Ah ok, dont worry, i thought it was something else

I dont think i'd like those sex life questions either. It just seems a bit bizzare..im not really sure what they are trying to prove!

ianx · 24-04-2007, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninteen

is cheltenham in berkshire?

GCHQ?

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianx

GCHQ?

aye. i was going to apply myself but i've had a change of heart!

ianx · 24-04-2007, 13:15

For a job at GCHQ is is perhaps a bit more understandable.

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianx

For a job at GCHQ is is perhaps a bit more understandable.

Definitely. but apparently it's becoming more commonplace among employers who don't necessarily need that kind of information!

Inkblot · 24-04-2007, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oinster

Generally it takes approximately 5 days for drugs to show up in a person's hair and will continue to be detectable in new hair growth for several months.

So not much use for telling if someone has been drinking the night before.

grotbags1975 · 24-04-2007, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inkblot

So not much use for telling if someone has been drinking the night before.

They would combine the hair test with urine and blood tests.

Prince Monalulu · 24-04-2007, 13:32

Yup it would have to be something high level like GCHQ or the security services to require all that.

Possible source of leverage/blackmail if you're into illegal drugs.

I might have missed something, but OP any clues you're allowed to give away about who the employer was?

Milky Joe · 24-04-2007, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by george chick

Yup it would have to be something high level like GCHQ or the security services to require all that.

Possible source of leverage/blackmail if you're into illegal drugs.

I might have missed something, but OP any clues you're allowed to give away about who the employer was?

GCHQ?

StressMonkey · 24-04-2007, 13:35

They've been doing this for years on the railways.

Friend of mine is a signalman. He, and drivers, are subject to random hair tests.

ninteen · 24-04-2007, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

They've been doing this for years on the railways.

Friend of mine is a signalman. He, and drivers, are subject to random hair tests.

oh well that rules out train driving for me! maybe i am just overprotective of my curls...

24-04-2007, 12:36	#1
ninteen Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,662	Job interviews: Testing for drugs and alcohol from a lock of hair just wondering if anyone else has heard of this. my friend had an interview last week and they cut off some of her hair at the scalp to do a drugs test, i was horrified! it was quite a big chunk as well. and on radio 1 news this lunchtime there was a feature about it, though they didn't mention drugs, only alcohol. apparently it's so employers can see if you have been out drinking the night before, and the alcohol stays in your hair a lot longer than your body. Now, if they wanted to see if you are irresponsable and unreliable enough to go on a drinking binge the night before an interview, surely they could breathalise you rather than doing this expensive procedure? (I think they said it was £350 a pop). And what does it matter if you got drunk a few months ago? And would people with longer hair be penalised because they can find things that they wouldn't find in someone with a crop? I don't think i would let anyone cut my hair for a job, i would rather they took out my blood and prodded me, anything but touch my hair! perhaps that's vain but... i don't take drugs and barely touch alcohol but i think my protest would suggest i did. there was a man at my friends interview who had no hair, so they said they can take it from his armpit, which is gross. but he shaved them as well so i have no idea what they did then!

24-04-2007, 12:38	#2
Bondvillain2k Posts: n/a	How bizarre. I'm not sure I'd fancy working for a company that was that paranoid :S

24-04-2007, 12:38	#3
Inkblot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: West London Services: Sky+; ADSL; Apples'n'iPears Posts: 13,256	How could alcohol you drank a few hours ago get into hair that grew weeks or months ago? Sounds like bad science.

24-04-2007, 12:43	#6
Milky Joe Forum Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: 0.3 units from doom Services: Wii - Ask for wii number! Posts: 17,448	Hair contains information about drugs you have taken since it grew, this much is true. Was the company your friend applied for quite "responsible"? Like something for MI5, government nuclear things, anything protected like that. I could only imagine those types of businesses doing it. A friend of mine went for an interview with a government company that requires you to sign the secrets act or whatever it is, she cant even tell me what her real job title is, only the fake cover one they gave her. In her interview they asked her all sorts of bizzare questions to see how she dealt with awkwardness, really personal things, such as "have you ever had sex with more than 1 person at once" "with a member of the same sex" etc...obviously they dont discriminate on this but it was to see how they reacted under such weird conditions.

24-04-2007, 12:44	#7
maimou Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Athens - GR Posts: 8,334	If someone tried to do that to me at an interview I'd walk out, no job is worth that type of intrusive indignity!

24-04-2007, 12:47	#8
Bookends Posts: n/a	Never heard of that before! What kind of job was she going for? Was it something that required a high level of security checks? Like working in an airport or something.

24-04-2007, 12:48	#9
Luxxy Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London Services: SkyHD, Pipex, iMac, Macbook, Wii Posts: 18,099	It must have been an MI5 job surely? Not sure what other employer would go to such extreme lengths?

24-04-2007, 12:50	#10
grotbags1975 Banned User Join Date: May 2006 Location: notts Services: sky/ntl Posts: 3,187	cocaine is present in the hair folicle for 90 days - seems a bit extreme for a job interview or infact even if you were in the job.

24-04-2007, 13:06	#13
Milky Joe Forum Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: 0.3 units from doom Services: Wii - Ask for wii number! Posts: 17,448	ninteen - this government organisation wasnt based in Berkshire was it?

24-04-2007, 13:15	#18
ianx Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Popincourt Posts: 5,719	For a job at GCHQ is is perhaps a bit more understandable.

24-04-2007, 13:32	#22
Prince Monalulu Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 10,965	Yup it would have to be something high level like GCHQ or the security services to require all that. Possible source of leverage/blackmail if you're into illegal drugs. I might have missed something, but OP any clues you're allowed to give away about who the employer was?

24-04-2007, 13:35	#24
StressMonkey Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 7,232	They've been doing this for years on the railways. Friend of mine is a signalman. He, and drivers, are subject to random hair tests.