New Survey Reveals Companies Are So Desperate For Workers They’ve Stopped Drug Testing Applicants
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. had a record 10.9 million job openings in July 2021, and many companies still can’t find people to fill those positions.
A new survey from ManpowerGroup revealed that employers who are still having difficulty filling key roles are doing everything possible to attract applicants. These added perks to attract applicants include higher salaries, flexible schedules, the ability to work from home more frequently, and free college tuition.
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In the same survey, 9% of employers worldwide said they are eliminating job screenings or drug tests to attract and retain talent.
Some 69% of employers worldwide are having trouble finding the people they need, with countries like India, Romania, and Singapore reporting a particularly difficult time hiring.
The poll results, which include data from over 45,000 employers from 43 countries and territories, underscores just how desperate companies are getting.
While half of them are dangling monetary incentives, 20% are offering non-financial benefits like extra vacation days or, yes, the ability to do (certain) drugs in the employee’s free time without worrying about repercussions.
“The global talent shortage shows no sign of slowing, with 69 percent of employers reporting difficulty filling roles,” the survey reported. “The employment outlook is optimistic, particularly for employers that are prepared to adapt to a new world of work and offer incentives to attract and retain the talent they need.”
The company surveyed 45,000 employers across 43 countries regarding their current hiring strategies.
One of the biggest companies to stop drug testing recently in the last few years is Amazon. This past June, the company said it would no longer test for marijuana during the application process for jobs not regulated by the US Department of Transportation.
“In the past, like many employers, we’ve disqualified people from working at Amazon if they tested positive for marijuana use,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s CEO of Worldwide Consumer. “However, given where state laws are moving across the U.S., we’ve changed course.”