Final answer:
Substance testing varies by type of employment, with certain positions such as those in safety-sensitive roles or requiring security clearances being more likely to require testing. The Supreme Court case, Employment Division v. Smith, addressed religious use of substances but underlines the complexity of workplace policies.
Federal jobs are categorized into competitive, excepted, and senior executive services, each with their own hiring standards which may affect substance testing policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Substance testing in the workplace can apply to various types of positions depending on company policies and federal laws.
For example, employees in safety-sensitive jobs or roles that require high security clearance may often be subject to strict substance testing protocols. Following a landmark Supreme Court case, Employment Division v. Smith, also known as "the peyote case", a distinction was made between general laws and those targeting specific religious practices.
In this case, two counselors were fired from a drug rehabilitation clinic for using peyote, a substance integral to their religious practices. While the ruling didn't directly relate to workplace drug testing policies, it highlighted the complexity of balancing employee rights with lawful employment practices.
In the federal government, positions are categorized into competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive service. Each of these categories has different hiring and employment standards, which can include regulations about substance testing.
Competitive service positions, for example, have hiring standards regulated by Congress and the Office of Personnel Management, while excepted service positions often have more specific hiring processes and requirements.
These distinctions in federal employment sectors could also reflect differing policies on substance testing, depending on the nature and requirements of the job.
As policies may vary by employer and job function, it is important for employees to understand the specific substance testing requirements associated with their position.