Drug Testing Existing Employees: What California Employers Should Know

July 09, 2026 | From HRCalifornia Extra

by Vanessa M. Greene, J.D.; Employment Law Counsel, CalChamber

Private employers in California are generally limited in their ability to test existing employees for drug or alcohol use. Random testing is legal only under very limited circumstances. Even post-accident testing isn’t always allowed after every accident. Reasonable suspicion testing, however, is generally permissible.

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