I had interviewed with a representative of Ford Motor Company for a summer position with their Powertrain Operations division. A few weeks later I was contacted (via telephone) by a recruiting and placement representative, about flying to Detroit the following Friday for a plant tour and second-round interviews on Saturday. No mention was made at that time of any physicals or drug testing.
We arrived in Detroit around 11 p.m. Friday night. The three of us from my university were met at the airport by a Ford representative, who gave us information packets about Ford in general, Powertrain Operations, and a schedule and other information regarding the following day. On the way to the hotel, he told us that Ford is among the 23% of companies employing 500 or more people which routinely give job applicants drug tests, that we would be tested the next morning, and negative results would be a condition of employment. The rationale offered for testing during the plant trip was that it was less expensive for Ford to test our group of nine recruits while we were there, rather than flying us out again later in the term. The other interviewees, who came from distances that could be conveniently driven, would be tested later.
As far as the testing procedure was concerned, written consent was required before taking the test; though the clear implication was that refusal would terminate the interviewing process. The testing protocol appeared to me to be based upon HHS (Health and Human Services) Guidelines for drug testing of federal employees: The sample was taken in a private bathroom, with all the water shut off except the commode; I do not recall if bluing agents had been added to the water. I was required to present a photo ID after the sample was collected, rather than upon arrival to the test site; I was allowed to wash my hands only after the sample was collected, its temperature had been taken, and all the paperwork had been completed. Regarding confidentiality of results, I vaguely remember reading some disclaimer on the consent form about "only those with a need to know" being given the results--although what that means is unclear to me.
While I suppose the night before--seven hours or so--might be called advance notice, as a matter of courtesy and openness I would much rather have known about the testing when I accepted the plant trip. I feel as if Ford wanted to spring this on us, being "high-risk college students," after all. Ironically, Ford's tight schedule for the day was blown to shreds when four people were unable to urinate on demand; only after repeated trips to a water fountain were they able to comply. Perhaps if we had been notified in a more appropriate and timely fashion than the night before, when we were all tired from a long day, they might have planned for the testing. Indeed, I wonder if some had not been told about the test until that morning.
As far as learning more about Ford's operations (presumably one purpose of a plant trip), the time dedicated to the physicals and drug tests meant that we, the out-of-towners, missed out on touring some of Powertrain Operation's facilities with the rest of the group. Instead, we had the dubious pleasure of a cursory van tour of the various Ford buildings in Dearborn. My decision to accept another job offer was made that much easier by Ford's rather impolite treatment.