Whether an employee is transferred to your division or they have just moved in to the area and have begun working for you, it is a good idea to understand (or remember) the mechanics of moving and how this affects their working relationships. For example, if someone is only seeking temporary employment until they find a better job or receive a better position within your company, they may forget that a strongly positive reference from a local employer may help them both in the short run and in the long run.
Employee drug & alcohol testing is for a specific purpose: to determine which of your employees may be showing up to work under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs and to provide legal documentation of how many instances where this has been tested positive. There are many reasons why an employee may be moving and not all of them are pure causes. Not only is it a good idea to double check references from newly arrived employees, but it is a good idea establish what their reputation is in an interview when they first arrive or apply for the job. On the one hand, you want to give newcomers a warm welcome to your area and help make them feel at home and loved and appreciated. On the other hand, you want to make sure that your generosity is not being put forth in vain and that your newly acquired resources are right for their job position.
Unfortunately, employees who have a negative track record with drugs or alcohol may move simply to get a new start, but not necessarily to change their previous behavior. Even with the best of intentions, out of town arrivals are still often stressed out and overwhelmed by the process and enormous responsibility of moving, and their best laid plans may not be enough to keep them from returning to their former behavior. After all, it may be the only thing that is familiar to them when they arrive in their new place. This is why alcohol drug testing and job histories are so important to make sure that new arrivals are up to snuff.
