Drug Tests at Work
21 V.S.A. § 513 — no random or company wide drug tests unless federal law requires them
An applicant may be tested only after a job offer conditioned on a negative result, and after written notice of the procedure and a list of the drugs tested.
- Random or company wide testing is barred unless federal law or regulation requires it.
- An employee may be tested only with probable cause to believe the employee is using or under the influence of a drug on the job, and only if a rehabilitation program is available.
- An employee who tests positive and completes the program may not be fired for it, and may be suspended only as long as the program takes, never more than three months.
- No blood sample may be required for a test.
- Testing uses a laboratory the Department of Health designates, and a positive urine result must be confirmed by a second test.
- A drug found at a therapeutic level is reported as negative.
Sources for this section (3)
- 21 V.S.A. § 512 — Drug testing of applicants; prohibitions; exceptions
- 21 V.S.A. § 513 — Drug testing of employees; prohibitions; exceptions
- 21 V.S.A. § 514 — Administration of tests
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.