21 September 2020
Official Information Request No. 8140007169.
(Please quote this in any correspondence)
BAW Russell
By email –
[FYI request #13425 email]
Dear BAW
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) 1987
Re: pre-employment drug testing
I refer to your request dated July 30th 2020, for information about our pre employment drug
testing and thank you for your agreement to refine your request to the period 1 June 2018 to
1 August 2020 to coincide with the introduction of our current system for recording pre
employment drug testing.
In response, I attach both our Drugs and Alcohol Guide and the breakdown of pre-
employment testing results and spend for Auckland Council from 1 June 2018 to 1 August
2020. Please note that as Auckland Council has a shared services model for talent
acquisition (which includes pre-employment checks) with Panuku Development Ltd, ATEED
and Regional Facilities Auckland, their pre-employment testing is also included in this data.
I can confirm that no tier 1 to 3 employee has returned a positive test in this time period.
Our pre-employment testing covers both external applicants and internal applicants. I can
confirm that no Auckland Council employee has been granted an exception to completing
our pre-employment drug and alcohol test as per our Drugs and Alcohol Guide requirements
during this time period.
You have requested advice of the number of employees whose employment has ended as a
result of a positive pre employment drug test. In respect of external candidates, our Human
Resources database does not record any cases where a positive drug test has resulted in
termination of employment. This is consistent with our practice of making al offers of
employment conditional upon a satisfactory drug test where the failure to provide a
satisfactory result may result in withdrawal of the offer or the recruitment process not
proceeding any further. In respect of internal candidates, a search of our Human Resources
database reveals that the employment of three employees has ended as a result of a
positive pre-employment drug test. Please note that there are a range of disciplinary
outcomes that may follow a positive drug test and these include a first written warning, a final
written warning and a rehabilitation agreement that includes random testing.
The decision to release this information to you was made by Shelley Lomas, Acting Head of
Employment Relations.
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz |
Ph 09 301 0101
Should you believe Auckland Council has not responded appropriately to your request, you
have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of the LGOIMA, to apply to the
Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of the decision.
If you have any further queries please contact me on 09 301 0101 quoting Of icial
Information Request No.8140007169.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Parry-Crooke
Senior Privacy & Official Information Business Partner
Governance Services
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 |
aucklandcouncil.govt.nz |
Ph 09 301 0101
