If you‘re in the process of applying for a job at Safeway, I imagine you‘re wondering about the elephant in the room – does Safeway require new employee drug testing? And if I test positive, can I still be hired? Don‘t worry, in this detailed guide I‘ll share everything you need to know about Safeway‘s drug testing policies including some clever tips to pass your screening.
An Overview: The Majority of Safeway Locations Require Pre-Employment Drug Tests
The straightforward answer is that yes, most Safeway grocery stores and locations do mandate drug and alcohol screening tests during the hiring process for new applicants. This means that to officially be brought on board, you will need to complete and pass this test demonstrating you are substance-free.
While specific policies can vary slightly between states and individual store managers, particularly in regions where recreational cannabis use is legalized, the vast majority still demand testing.
This comprehensive guide will explore all key aspects of Safeway‘s drug testing requirements including:
- What positions require drug testing
- Types of tests conducted
- The actual testing procedures
- Consequences of failing
- How to pass your Safeway drug test
- Regional and state-by-state differences
Let‘s explore what you can expect from this process when seeking a career with Safeway and expert guidance to help you confidently pass.
Why Retailers Like Safeway Require Drug Testing
Before diving into the specifics around Safeway, it‘s helpful to understand the general reasons companies require drug and alcohol testing procedures in the first place:
Safety: For roles involving heavy machinery or driving, testing aims to prevent accidents from intoxicated candidates.
Regulations: Some industries require testing to comply with federal laws for safety sensitive jobs.
Productivity: Drug use may lower work output and impact customer experience.
Company Culture: Businesses often prefer a substance-free culture and environment.
For Safeway specifically, safety around warehouse equipment and especially commercial trucks plays a major role. But also general productivity, retail customer experience, and promoting a consistent on-brand culture likely influences their decision to test applicants.
Note that in Canada, privacy laws prohibit pre-employment drug testing except for select roles – so Canadian locations do not test.
What Types of Safeway Positions Get Tested?
First and foremost – transportation employees including truck drivers will always undergo testing due to Department of Transportation rules about safety sensitive driving occupations requiring monitoring from a public safety standpoint.
Beyond commercial drivers, here is a general overview of what other common positions face testing:
Do Get Tested:
- Cashiers
- Pharmacy staff
- Night stockers and inventory
- Produce and deli workers
- Management roles
May Not Get Tested:
- Courtesy clerks
- Cart and maintenance staff
- Seasonal employees
High risk jobs involving inventory management, expensive goods, machinery or driving will always face stringent testing. Lower wage entry roles may not depending on state or store mandates. But it‘s wise to expect you‘ll need to take a test for any position.
What Type of Drug Tests Does Safeway Use?
The standard method used for new hire screening is an oral fluid mouth swab test collected via oral saliva. But occasionally locations may use a urine analysis instead.
Oral tests have become more common as they are simple to administer onsite without special equipment or lab processing delays.
To collect a saliva sample for testing, the hiring manager or third party collector will:
- Swab the inside of your mouth with a test stick for 30-90 seconds to collect saliva
- Seal swab stick and insert into screening device
- Await positive or negative result within 5-10 minutes
Oral swab tests can detect most substance use from the past 24 hours up to around 3 days prior depending on the drug.
Substances Screened For With Safeway Testing
Safeway does screen for all major illegal drugs including:
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine
- Opiates like heroin
- Amphetamines/methamphetamines
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
They also test for legal cannabis even in states where recreational use is allowed as it remains unauthorised federally. Certain prescription medicines may also trigger positive indications.
Now let‘s explore a few categories further:
Marijuana Drug Testing
Cannabis is absolutely tested for despite state level legalizations. This includes medical cannabis patients too. Safeway adheres to federal regulations where marijuana remains an illegal Schedule 1 substance, hence why they test in legal states.
This applies for all forms of cannabis products including full spectrum CBD oils with trace THC as well as Delta-8 THC which also triggers positive test results.
Prescription Drug Testing
Many common prescriptions like sleep aids, sedatives, antidepressants, and pain meds can also generate failed test notices even with valid scripts. Safeway leaves this up to the Medical Review Officer‘s analysis.
So you should inform the hiring manager of any current medications you take legally ahead of the screening process.
Steroid Testing
Anabolic steroid screening is not traditionally included in retail new hire testing. However some locations do actively test for steroids simultaneously – so it‘s smart to err on the side of caution and avoid any steroid-related supplement products when job seeking just in case.
What Happens When You Fail a Safeway Drug Test?
Assuming your sample generates a legitimate positive reading signalling drug use, here is the standard protocol:
- You‘ll receive notice of the failed result usually within 24 hours via phone or email
- Safeway will formally rescind the conditional job offer they previously extended
- Start of employment will be denied until further notice
So in essence, expect a revoked job offer requiring you to search elsewhere if your submission fails.
Most locations provide one opportunity to reapply and retest in 6-12 months assuming it was a first time offense. But some permanently disqualify you – so a pass is crucial!
Can You Dispute or Retest After Failing?
In some cases it may be possible to:
- Dispute a false positive result via Medical Review Officer
- Request a secondary confirmation retest
However Safeway rarely permits retesting or appeals after an initial failure. Still, if you have strong reason to believe results were inaccurate, engage the Medical Review Officer listed on your results report to discuss options.
Having an existing script for the substance causing a "false positive" will strengthen your case if appealing.
Clever Tips to Pass Your Safeway Pre-Employment Drug Screening
Now for the practical guidance to confidently pass your Safeway testing process:
1. Stop All Substance Use ASAP
This one is straightforward yet absolutely critical. Immediately discontinue usage of any substances legal or not after applying at Safeway.
- Cannabis takes around 30 days for traces to fully clear saliva tests for most people
- Opiates clear in 2-4 days
- Stimulants like cocaine may linger just 1-2 days
Plan for 30-90 days abstinence just to be certain. Exercise and hydration accelerates detoxification as well.
2. Avoid Secondhand Exposure
In legal states, also evade secondhand marijuana smoke 3+ weeks pre-test. While occasional exposure likely won‘t make you fail, repeated contact with secondhand usage potentially could. Play it safe.
3. Consider Oral Detoxification Methods
For those facing longer detection times or concerned about passing, certain oral detox mouthwashes can purge unwanted substances from your saliva before undergoing an oral swab:
| Product | Description | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Clear Gum | Fast acting removal gum | 4.2 ⭐ |
| Oral Clear Rinse | Mouthwash and liquid cleaner | 4.8 ⭐ |
| Toxin Rid Mouthwash | Fights buildup on cheeks/gums | 4.6 ⭐ |
Be sure to use any detoxifier properly and according to package instructions well in advance of testing day.
While not foolproof, cleansing mouthwashes better your odds versus abstinence alone if pressed for time.
State-By-State Policy Variances to Be Aware Of
I‘ll conclude this guide going over a few key state/region specific nuances around Safeway‘s testing practices:
- Arizona and Colorado locations are more strict even with legal cannabis
- West coast states overall tend to adhere firmly to testing
- Certain East coast spots like Maine may overlook low level roles
- As mentioned – Canada prohibits random testing due to privacy laws
Check your local store hiring pages to confirm specific testing policies by region. But expect screening to remain consistent nationally aside from the total ban in Canada stores.
Safeway Positions That Don‘t Require Drug Testing
While most careers at Safeway involve testing mentioned earlier, once in awhile niche opportunities arise not mandating applicants to take tests.
For those unable or preferring to avoid drug screening demands, watch for these select roles that may forego testing depending on location:
- Courtesy clerks
- Cart and maintenance staff
- Seasonal warehouse helpers
- Temporary construction crews
- Select internships
Just keep in mind policies vary widely between stores andmanagers – so don‘t take it as guaranteed any listed job avoids testing. Reach out to the hiring manager to verify beforehand if aiming to skirt around Safeway‘s stringent employment screening practices.
Final Thoughts
I hope this all-encompassing guide better informed your understanding of Safeway‘s pre-employment drug and alcohol screening policies. While approaches vary slightly region to region, nearly all stores demand applicants complete mandated substance tests before officially getting hired.
Arm yourself with the knowledge of which positions require examination, what testing entails, consequences of failing and pro tips to pass flawlessly. Now you can pursue an exciting grocery career at Safeway fully prepared to excel at any mandatory drug tests along the way!
This article was compiled by Marques Thomas, 25 year retail industry professional manager and published career advisor. All key testing policy research derives from direct Safeway employee interviews and aggregate hiring data analysis.
