Re: Tests to Select Competent Writers

[Bev Parks <bparks -at- HUACHUCA-EMH1 -dot- ARMY -dot- MIL>]

 Ellen Adams says...
 [snip]
   Drug tests are okay. I don't mind; I don't do drugs. But
   psychological tests? I detest them. These exams are not a measure of
   talent. They're not even a good measure of subservience and loyalty.

 Sue Gallagher responded...
   No they're not!!! I have a hard time justifying drug
   testing for rail road engineers and bus drivers! I'm
   a professional and I demand to be treated like a
   professional. I'll come to work and perform to the
   best of my abilities, but what I do in the privacy
   of my own home is none of my employers gd business,
   thank you very much.
   [snip]
=======
Ooh, I see touchy subject, possible flame war developing on this
one! (But I don't plan to participate if such should develop.)

I think for some professions drug testing is justified: any
profession that directly puts the safety of other human beings
in the hands of the employee. To Sue's list of railroad
engineers and bus drivers, I add airplane pilots and surgeons.

I agree, what someone does in the privacy of their home is their
business. But what guarantee do we have that such activity does
not extend onto the job?

If the freelance writer I hired to write my manual is high while
doing it, but still turns out quality work, fine. To each his
own. But I sure as hell don't want to find out my pilot is high
when we're cruisin' at 27,000 feet (no pun intended). If he
should screw up, there's much more at stake than a shoddily
written users manual!

=*= Beverly Parks =*= bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil =*=
 =*= "These opinions are mine, not my employer's." =*=
  =*=                     =*=                     =*=