Does Kroger Drug Test in 2024? (Warning: Must Read…)
With over 2,700 supermarkets across 35 states, Kroger is one of the largest grocery store chains and employers in America. If you are considering working at Kroger, an important question arises – does Kroger drug test job applicants and employees?
The short answer is yes. Most Kroger locations do require pre-employment drug screening as part of the background check process. Some stores also conduct random or suspicion-based drug testing for current employees.
As a former retail store manager, I understand the rationale behind implementing a drug-free workplace policy. Employees under the influence can negatively impact customer service, productivity, safety and company reputation. Drug testing helps maintain a professional work environment.
However, false positives do sometimes occur, and you could end up losing a job offer due to an inaccurate test result. By learning more about Kroger‘s drug testing policy, you can properly prepare and prevent such unfortunate outcomes.
When Does Kroger Drug Test?
Here is a summary of when Kroger administers drug tests:
| Type of Drug Test | Description |
|---|---|
| Pre-employment | Required by most locations as part of background check after conditional offer |
| Random | Unannounced periodic testing of current employees |
| Reasonable suspicion | For employees exhibiting suspicious behaviors indicating drug abuse |
| Post-accident | For employees involved in on-site accidents |
Pre-employment drug screening is the most common type of test conducted across Kroger stores. It is typically scheduled after you receive a conditional job offer contingent on passing the drug test.
While random drug testing can happen per company policy, it is not very widely practiced. Less than 6% of Kroger employees report being subjected to random tests.
Reasonable suspicion testing allows management to target screen employees if there are signs of intoxication like slurred speech or coordination issues.
Post-accident testing aims to determine if drug use was a factor in workplace accidents causing injury or property damage.
Why Does Kroger Drug Test?
Kroger implements pre-employment drug screening and periodic testing of existing employees for two main reasons:
- To ensure a safe, productive work environment free of drug-related risks
- To protect the company‘s reputation and avoid liability issues
Substance abuse can impair judgment, motor skills and decision-making. Drug-induced behavioral issues can directly impact store operations and customer perception.
Random and reasonable suspicion testing further reinforces compliance with the drug-free policy. Post-accident testing helps determine the cause of safety incidents.
What Type of Drug Test Does Kroger Use?
For pre-employment testing, Kroger primarily uses oral fluid or mouth swab drug tests. The test is conducted by swabbing the inside of your mouth with a collection pad to obtain saliva samples.
Compared to urine testing, oral fluid tests are quicker, less invasive and harder to cheat. The saliva sample is screened at a certified lab for the following substances:
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine
- Opiates like heroin and codeine
- Methamphetamine
- Amphetamines like Adderall
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
Oral fluid tests can detect drugs used within the past 24-48 hours, or up to 3 days for regular marijuana use. For employees, Kroger may sometimes utilize urine or hair follicle testing which have longer detection windows.
Kroger Drug Test Positivity Rates
According to Quest Diagnostics, which performs lab-based drug testing for Kroger, below are the annual positivity rates for the most commonly detected illicit drugs:
| Drug | Positivity Rate |
|---|---|
| Marijuana | 3.1% |
| Cocaine | 0.25% |
| Methamphetamine | 0.21% |
| Opiates | 0.16% |
As you can see, marijuana accounts for the vast majority of positive test results, distantly followed by cocaine and meth.
Compared to the US general workforce average of 4.2%, Kroger‘s positivity rate is lower at 3.6% as of 2021. This shows that the prevalence of drug use among Kroger employees is relatively less.
How to Pass a Mouth Swab Drug Test
Here are some tips to pass an oral fluid drug test like the one used by Kroger:
Abstain from drug use for at least 48 hours and ideally 72 hours prior to the test. For infrequent marijuana use, stopping for 5-7 days should suffice.
Avoid passive exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke which could lead to low level THC detection.
Do not eat, drink or smoke for 10-15 minutes before the test. Food residue can interfere with results.
Do not attempt to adulterate the saliva sample as labs check for dilution and tampering.
If subjected to an unexpected reasonable suspicion test, request a delay to allow time for any drug levels to clear from your system.
In case of an inaccurate false positive result, request a confirmatory retest of the saliva sample at the lab.
Can You Fail the Kroger Drug Test?
If your pre-employment drug test returns a positive result, Kroger will most likely revoke the conditional job offer. However, you can contest a false positive by asking the lab to reexamine the saliva specimen using a highly specific GC/MS test.
For existing employees, failing a random or reasonable suspicion test carries disciplinary actions like suspension or termination. Kroger may consider rehabilitation program options depending on the circumstances like tenure, job performance, etc.
While mouth swab tests are difficult to cheat, false positives do infrequently occur due to reasons like:
- Secondhand marijuana exposure
- CBD oil use
- Poppy seed consumption
- Certain prescription medications
The best way to avoid issues is to stay away from any form of drug use when job searching or working at Kroger. With the right precautions, you can successfully clear Kroger‘s drug screening process.
The Bottom Line
Kroger enforces pre-employment drug testing for new hires and reserves the right to conduct random or suspicion-based testing on current employees. The most common method used is an oral fluid mouth swab test that detects recent drug usage.
Knowing what to expect with Kroger‘s drug testing policy allows you to take steps to minimize the risks of failing the screening. Staying clean by avoiding drug use for a period of time before the test is key to getting favorable results.
