New job

[SgtM]

So, for the last 5 years, I've been working mundane jobs with little to no room to advance. I got a call today that is potentially life changing (financially anyway). I'm going to be working for Ohio Edison/First Energy in their Systems Network Operations Center. :banana: Paperwork follows, and I'll probably be starting in a week. Minty - you were right man.

[OvRiDe]

Way to go! Congratulations and Good Luck!!!

[AJ@PR]

w00t w00t w00t w000000000ttttTTT!!!!

Happy for you man. :)

Go for it!!!!

[Ichbin]

Congrats man!!! now you can work on your mod with less stress

[.Maleficus.]

Congrats man, I hope all goes well for you.

[SgtM]

Thanks all for the warm wishes.

Well, I went to fill out all the paperwork this afternoon. I have to go tomorrow and have a urinalysis done. No big deal there. I'm hoping to start on Wed the 7th, if not then Mon the 12th at the latest. I'll be working 12 hour shifts. 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on 2 days off. This includes weekends and holidays. Every other Tuesday is an 8 hour shift to keep us at 80 hours for the 2 weeks. It's gonna be quite a ride!

[nil8]

Good job man. You'll be amazed how much happier you are when you get treated like a professional. It's astounding.

[simon275]

Good times looks like a nice piece of job satisfaction is coming your way.

[DaveW]

I have to go tomorrow and have a urinalysis done. No big deal there.

Is that common practice in the US? Personally, i'd refuse to accept that on principle. This isn't a bash at anyone or their culture, i'm just curious about this one. I've never heard of anything like this at all in the UK.

-Dave

[Bucko]

I had to do one for my current job and I can also be randomly drug tested or breath tested at any time.

[DaveW]

I had to do one for my current job and I can also be randomly drug tested or breath tested at any time.

Don't you think that's infringing on your personal rights? I know they say that the innocent have nothing to fear, but that sounds ludicrous to me. I'd understand if say you were an Athlete, or an Astronaut, etc. but to be a Network Administrator?

That screams to me 'little cog in a big machine. If the little cog doesn't work, we replace it. We make sure all our little cogs work by examining them randomly.' It doesn't say "See me, i'm a person." I'm actually really surprised by this, especially as America has formed such a reputation as a free country...i don't want to offend anyone, so please stop me if you feel like i'm bashing you.

For Minty & sgtm: you're military guys who fought for your country. Aren't you offended that your countrymen will require a variety of tests to ensure that you're worthy of employing?

-Dave

[Bucko]

I'm randomly tested because I work in a safety critical job on the Railways though. If I was drunk or stoned, I could potentially crash trains into one another.

[Luke122]

Here's how I get back. I always make sure when I pee in a cup for them, to dribble the last bit all over the outside of the cup. I also fill it to the brim. If I am really mad about it, I might pretend like I am going to trip and drop it on someone as I go to give it back to whoever is taking the specimen. ;)

-Jai

edit: or eat a LOT of asparagus if you have 24 hours notice before hand :D give the testers something to whine about.

hahahaha.. if I ever have to pee in a cup for work, I'll be sure to remember THAT.

[nil8]

Urine testing is very common in almost all businesses.
The only people who don't have to do it are the extremely crappy or extremely professional jobs.
Most CEO's don't get piss tested when they come to a company.
Most fast food workers don't either.
So instead of critical jobs, or dangerous jobs, it's almost all jobs. I've been a pc grunt for years now and have been tested at every job I've had.

It's an invasive part of working in the United States. Because we've been doing it for years now, no one seems to notice or care anymore. It's standard practice. The only people that seem to care or want the law to change are drug users or privacy extremists. Neither group is the majority, and neither group have good, consistent lobbies backing them up in Congress.

It exists to protect business. Businesses can't fire someone for being addicted to drugs or alcohol. If they do they can be sued and normally lose. The person has to attend rehab, paid for by the company, and then return to work at the end of rehab, for an evaluation period.
This isn't true in all cases. States stipulate the conditions that employees can be fired under. My home state of Missouri is a right-to-fire state. This means that if I was in an accident on company time and tested positive for drugs, I couldn't sue. They have the right to fire me for any reason. I could be 3 minutes late for work and be fired. It's all about the internal policies of the company.

Businesses protect themselves by urine testing during the hiring process, after any accident, or randomly. It is their discretion.

What sticks in my craw about the whole situation is that certain substances don't impair you hours after intake, and you could be using them in your off time. That is none of the company's business. Your free time is your own and how you spend it is up to you.

As for taking the test, the lab techs that deal with the urine samples aren't the ones that put this policy in place or enforce it. They're just doing their jobs. Doing any of those things is like getting pissed at a cop for a speeding ticket. They didn't set the law and it doesn't benefit anyone in the situation.

On top of that, urine is a clean fluid and lab techs wear gloves.
Asparagus is still open game. I've spent long hours in labs and there are much worse smells than stinky urine.

[Luke122]

As for taking the test, the lab techs that deal with the urine samples aren't the ones that put this policy in place or enforce it. They're just doing their jobs. Doing any of those things is like getting pissed at a cop for a speeding ticket. They didn't set the law and it doesn't benefit anyone in the situation.


Yeah, good point. +rep for tellin it like it is. :)

[SgtM]

I don't see it as a big deal. I've smoked weed 1 time when I was 18. Never did anything for me, and I've never touched the stuff again. As far as I'm concerned, the company is protecting it's assets. If I was spending $40,000+/yr on someone, I would want to make sure they're clean also. My job in the SNOC at First Energy will be monitoring the systems that ensure power stays on in most of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and parts of New Jersey. If an alarm trips and I miss it because I'm stoned or drunk, then A LOT of people are going to be very unhappy. Then I also have to consider the fact that maybe there is someone receiving medical treatments at home. What if they lost power, and couldn't receive those treatments? So there are safety concerns there also.

[Luke122]

I completely agree with you.. a position like that does require attention, and if you were under the influence at work, it could absolutely affect your performance, safety, etc.

I guess my big concern with drug testing is the right to privacy within your own home. If someone is a responsible, hard worker, and always comes to work clear headed and does their job well and safely, then what would it matter if they were to drink or do drugs in their off hours as long as it doesnt affect their job performance?

Drug usage aside, the right to privacy is a very real thing. Even if you have nothing to hide, why should every aspect of your life be publicly available?

Not a bash to anyone here or otherwise, just my opinion.. my two cents if you will. :)

/hijack

Congrats on the new job, it's a good feeling to be treated as a valuable resource, rather than an expendable nameless employee.

[agnat]

Congrats Sgtm!!! Good luck in your new position.

Like you I finally landed a job where I'm appreciated 6 months ago. It's doing what I like and I'm getting paid for it - who could ask for more?

Dave, I understand your concern and I have mixed feelings about it myself. First I was military for 23 years, so I'm used to random urinalysis. Therefore it does not bother me to do it for a job. It at least certifies that I am disease and drug free and have been for over 25 years!

In the shoes of someone hiring for positions I would probably demand it because drugs are so rampant in the US even in small towns. I've seen documentarys on drug use and understand that one toke on crack and you are addicted! Same with Meth. You would be surprised at how many people show up looking to get hired at Walmart and get rejected because of recent drug use!

Americans have enjoyed basic freedoms for years and some of those have gone by the wayside since 9/11. It's a fact of life (and survival) that we have to live with now, but it is very necessary. My $.02 worth!!

[Airbozo]

OK, now you got me started on this "prove you are not a druggie" flame.

I have only had to take a piss test a couple of times in my life. Several of them were when I was in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club. I admitted to holding hands with Mary Jane when I signed up for the service and filled up the cup to prove I was clean. (had to come clean about my past since my MO required a FBI background check and polygraph test)(thats another funny story). I was also subject to random tests throughout my term of service, including my reserve time). I only failed once and that was after vacation for my 21st birthday. They said it was a fluke and retested me. I passed the second time. I have little issue with those tests considering what I was doing.

I only ever had to take a yellow stream test for one other employer, and that was because they were a government contractor. I almost see the need for that one as well, but I have some issues with it. In the U.S., the government requires initial drug screening upon hire for any company doing direct business with the government due to the fact that they see drug users as a liability with sensitive information. The transportation industry also requires ongoing screening. (there are others, but mostly for safety issues)

Here are my issues with drug testing;
Although the tests have gotten better (they used to show a positive if you ate too many poppy seed bagels), there are still flaws and if you fail your initial screening for an employer, there is little recourse. You just do not get the job. Even if it was a false positive. Also who's business is it if someone has a "J" at night, or on the weekends with friends? The test is unable to determine if you are a casual smoker vs a chronic abuser (although the thc levels may help indicate that). How many reports have you heard of, that show a pot smoker was responsible for espionage to support their habit. One of my real issues with the whole theory of drug testing is that they only check for drugs. Alcohol abuse is responsible for _way_ many more accidents and lost work days than most any other drug on the market (ok so if you are a meth user, you are probably not working a real job anyway). I have had Military personnel, Cops, Ceo's and even FBI agents tell me that they would rather have a pot smoker working for them than an alcoholic any day of the week.

What's next? A test to determine how many laws you have violated (and not been caught), because law breakers _might_ be a risk to their company? They already do a credit report on you in most places of employment as well to determine if you are a good risk (can't have you pilfering pencils and post-it's to peddle on ebay to cover your credit abuse...).

All in all it is a violation of an individuals privacy and changes the whole "innocent until proven guilty" mantra. I have refused drug tests in the past and I once even offered to fill the cup so long as my manager, director, and ceo were required to do the same. There have even been lawsuits about it and the results usually get hidden in some legalese (or sealed entirely) so as not to provide a method for resistance for other employees. In the end it would really depend on the job whether or not I would submit to a test. If I wanted that job at NASA AMES working in the flight simulator division, then I. P. Freely!

/rant

Good luck with the new job and learn as much as you can! (and remember to max out your 401k and take advantage of any education benefits)

[Drum Thumper]

Good luck with the new job and learn as much as you can! (and remember to max out your 401k and take advantage of any education benefits)

Excellent advice. I second it!

Gratz on the new gig!

[SgtM]

I start tomorrow 8:00 am

[AJ@PR]

I start tomorrow 8:00 am

w00t w00t !!!!!!

Remember to take your own Red Stapler everywhere...

[Maz]

Only if its Swingline...

[Commando]

Congrats SgtM on the new job. The rat race is always a nightmare but the experience you've gained in the military will serve you well.

Semper Fidelis.

[AJ@PR]

Congrats SgtM on the new job. The rat race is always a nightmare but the experience you've gained in the military will serve you well.

Semper Fidelis.

Wow... do we have some Kiyosaki in there?!?!

Lemme know if by 'rat race' you were talking something along those lines...
If you were, we must start a new thread with that topic! :)

[SgtM]

So.. recap of my first 3 days at the new gig. I'm lovin this place! I'm working in the Systems Network Operation Center (SNOC). Basically, we're monitoring servers and databases as well as all of the external point to point ATM circuits for the entire company, which covers power for Ohio/PA/NJ. Our room sits right next to the data center.. and let me just say WOW about that. HUGE room, over 1200 servers on site. Next week, I'll be working 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, and after that I move to the 12 hour daytime 7:00 am - 7:00 pm shifts. Starting in April, I'l be working nights, 7:00 pm - 7:00 am for a while. We're staffed 24x7x365. We work 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on 2 days off. The way it works is that in 2 weeks, I'll work every day of the week 1 time, but it only accounts to 7 working days total in that time because of the schedule scructure.

There's something to be said about a company that treats everyone fairly, and this place sure does it. Yes, there will be some corporate BS that we have to deal with. That's unavoidable no matter who you work for. I've been very observant to what goes on all around me. I can't think of 1 person that I've seen that's been in a bad mood, or just looks like they can't stand being there. I've been on the **** end of the stick for a while now, and couldn't be happier that things are starting to turn around for me.

[Ichbin]

Grats man! Great to hear your having a great time!

[jdbnsn]

Damn, I missed this thread. Congrats Rick! Glad to hear you landed a job you enjoy, that always makes going to work a pleasant thing. As for all the UA discussion, yeah well, what can you do? I'ts an insurance thing and I think the companies get a different premium for workers compensation if they UA everyone at hire. Funny thing is, I have been tested at nearly every job I've had until I got into medicine. Now that I am given the opportunity to operate on people, no one seems to care what's in my urine (curious also that this profession has a very high occurence rate of substance abuse among it's members)

[slytherock]

I also missed this thread... Congrat sgtm, look like a wonderfull job opportunity, and keep and eye on old servers ;)