Are you considering applying for a job at your local Walmart? If so, you may be wondering if Walmart drug tests people in the hiring process or does random drug tests after you get hired. This information may be a tipping point in your job search. I talked to several employees and a store manager and here’s everything you need to know about drug testing at Walmart and how the process works.

The bottom-line is that Walmart does drug test, but NOT all new hires have to take one.

More on this below.

Not All Employees Are Subject to a Drug Test

According to the Walmart store manager that I talked too, not all new hires are required to take a drug test.

Only certain departments are required to take a test and it seems this can change from store to store.

They involve departments that handle heavy equipment like a fork lift, pharmacy techs, sporting goods (guns & ammo), and managerial positions all require a drug test.

Cashier positions are NOT required to take drug test at Walmart at this time.

I was also told that many Walmart locations will NOT drug test seasonal workers around Black Friday and Christmas.

DRUG TEST BEFORE A PROMOTION

While much of Walmart’s drug testing depends on the state you live in, especially as it concerns marijuana, you stand the best chance of getting drug tested when you’re up for a promotion. This makes sense from an employer’s perspective as they don’t want to promote employees whose drug use may become a problem down the road.

See Also: What’s the Walmart Employee Discount? Here’s ALL You Need to Know

Be Prepared To Pee in a Cup

Walmart will NOT ask you to do a drug test at your actual interview. (Side note: Here’s what you should wear to the interview)

But they may ask you to visit a local drug testing center on the same day as your interview, or a day later, where you will need to pee in a cup so your urine can be tested.

If they want to hire you, they’ll make your employment contingent on a satisfactory drug test.

PRO TIP: DID YOU GET AN EMAIL SAYING YOU’LL GET DRUG TESTED BEFORE ORIENTATION?

Don’t worry, this is an email that Walmart sends out to everyone who gets a job offer, even those who will not need to do a drug test. If the position that you were hired for requires a test, you’ll get separate instructions telling you where you need to go for the test and you’ll have 24 hours to get it done.

Walmart and Marijuana Have a Complicated Relationship

The relationship between Walmart employees and marijuana has been up for debate recently and Walmart seems to not be taking a side…yet.

Walmart recently fired an employee who tested positive for marijuana even though they lived in a state where pot was legal.

This led to a long legal battle.

Bottom-line, Walmart still DOES test for marijuana but it looks like this might be coming to an end.

Stay tuned.

Walmart Will Perform Random Drug Tests

Walmart reserves the right to perform random drug tests on employees.

From my research, “random tests” are more in-line with a manager calling for a drug test if they feel one is warranted.

If you decline to take a random drug test, Walmart will consider it a positive test result and reserves the right to terminate your employment.

Expect a Drug Test After an Accident or “Incident”

Similar to Amazon, Walmart reserves the right to ask you to take a drug test after an on-the-job accident or incident where they feel you might be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Your employment can be terminated if your test results come back positive or you decline to take the test.

See Also: 9 Smart Ways to Save Money at Walmart

Also…Expect Them To Do a Background Check

In order to limit the risk of new hires, Walmart will perform a background check on you during the interview/hiring process.

They’ll check your record to see if you have any misdemeanor or felony convictions in the past 7 years.

If you have a spotty record, especially a violent record, they’ll typically exclude you from their pool of job candidates.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever taken a drug test for employment at Walmart? What information am I missing? Let me know below, thanks.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)