Evading Testing
Keeping Supervisors Focused during Reasonable Suspicion Testing
How Employees Evade Reasonable Suspicion Testing
Employees may try and evade reasonable suspicion testing.
As a supervisor, you need to be aware of how employees may try and divert the issue and prepare yourself for it. Whether they are conscious of their avoidance or not, these defenses are done as a self protection method. Remember, if they have been asked to perform reasonable suspicion testing, the request for the testing has already been confirmed by two supervisors with a written recommendation to the Human Resources Department with a description of the behavior and/or circumstances observed.
Some of the ways they will try and evade reasonable suspicion testing is by preying on your sympathies. They may try and get you involved with their personal problems, or attempt to elicit guilt by pleading how difficult their situation is and how it will only make their bad situation worse. Other avoidance tactics may be to blame someone else for their behavior or try and diffuse the situation by twisting the circumstances to some other event. Avoid getting involved in conversations about personal matters. Keep the topic to work performance and conduct. The request for the testing is documented so your action as a supervisor is to move forward in a businesslike manner.
If the employee becomes angry or breaks down into tears, this is just another form of defense – a way they can evade reasonable suspicion testing. The best way to diffuse anger is through a calm demeanor. Do not let their physical intimidation force you to react defensively. Keep the situation focused on work. When an employee is in tears, it is difficult to not get emotional, but you cannot afford to fall into this trap. Regardless as to what they claim, keep focused on the two supervisor requests and documented description to HR as the reason for the testing. It is not in yours or the employee’s best interest to change the course, but rather to just follow through with the test. This is a request made to protect and improve the work place.
Employees evade reasonable suspicion testing for hundreds of reasons. But the reason they are there to be tested is documented. That is what you need to always remember. Disciplinary actions are difficult, and reasonable suspicion testing is uncomfortable for everyone involved. By keeping the situation focused about work, both employee and supervisor will get through the process with the least amount of emotional heartache.
