Drug testing of reporters at the Star-Advertiser? Or just my misunderstanding?
Did you happen to see PBS Hawaii’s Leahey & Leahey last night, with guest Stephen Tsai?
This weekly program features father & son team, Jim Leahey and Kanoa Leahey in a 30-minute discussion of local sports that often wanders in political and social commentary. It’s always a well-done piece of local programming.
They introduced Tsai as the top Star-Advertiser reporter on the UH football beat.
Tsai responded that he had just taken a drug test (did he say “drug test” or “blood test”?) and hoped that his job at the Star-Advertiser is secure. It was said in a joking manner, but it didn’t seem to be a joke. However, I have to leave the door open because I haven’t heard anything else about such testing, which would likely raise a fuss. Hopefully I just misunderstood.
And I don’t see anything concerning drug testing on the Hawaii Newspaper Guild web site. Actually, the transition to the Star-Advertiser isn’t yet reflected there. Instead, there are still links to the Star-Bulletin and Advertiser. I suppose this reflects some disarray as the Guild goes through merger talks of its own.
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Drug tests are a waste of time. What they really need are IQ tests.
Well testing drives their costs up but I am not sure what it really protects them or us from. Americans have no concept of relative risk.
The Star-Advertiser might better spend its resources on an annual grammar or spelling test.
I imagine that as new hires, Advertiser people get a standard exam, for legal, liability reasons.
Management shouldn’t be exempt.
It’s a liability thing for the owners.
Others should be tested for drugs. Check out #1:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#38964897
Just SOP Ian. ALL NEW employees (mgmt included) must pass a physical AND a drug test. Only those new to OPI. BTW, if you were a new employee at the now defunct Advertiser you had to go through the same drill……I did get a kick out of the assumption that only “reporters” had to be tested though…haha
These tests don’t pick up the binge drinkers, at best they pick up the constant drinkers and those who have had a drink in the last several days.
In terms of risk, I’d worry about the occasional binge drinker over the weekend weed smoker. But complacency and catering to one’s lawyers replaces thinking any old day.
There is no way they drug-tested any new vice president at the SA. Absolutely no way.
And I know for a fact that at least one member of top SA/OPI management smokes pot daily. I guess that’s OK, though.
Testing for marijuana is ridiculous. If you have just cause to fire someone, do it. Otherwise, don’t worry if they smoked last week.
It’s frightening how many people think this is “no biggie.” I miss my country.
The SA is simply wasting it’s money, from the content it’s clear that some of the reporters are on drugs. 🙂
It was no big deal. I figured it was an insurance thing because we use our cars for work.
The subject came up because Ferd Lewis told me I needed to give a large sampling for the urine test. So I drank water before going on the show (the appointment was afterward), and the studio was chilly …
Anyway, I hadn’t had a physical in a while, so I looked at it as way to get a free one.
If the testing is just for new hires, why did the S-A wait so long? It’s been up and running for almost three months.
200-plus new employees. Understandably, that takes a while to set up with the provider.