Drug testing/Pregancy policy in the United States Navy.

One of the prerogatives of an employer is the hiring of company personnel . During the hiring process , prospective employees undergo procedures , such as drug screening , in to determine their fitness and competency in rendering their services to the company . When they are hired as employees , the employer would then again require them to undergo random drug testing from time to time , for after all , an employee 's qualification is not only during the hiring stage but must be throughout his employment

This holds true to the United States Navy which recently imposed

a zero-tolerance drug policy ( HYPERLINK "http /www .defenselink .mil /specials /drugawareness /usnnews03a .html http /www .defenselink .mil /specials /drugawareness /usnnews03a .html

The U .S Navy imposes a mandatory drug-test on its sailors , and those who tested positive of drug use are subjected to disciplinary actions including discharge from service

So a question now arises in the mind of the employee whether this drug testing is violating his right to privacy . The employer might answer the same in the negative contending that such drug testing or screening is only for safety reasons

In to answer the said issue , there are two schools of thought which should be considered . One is the Utilitarian theory , and the second is the Deontological theory

Under the utilitarian theory , while it is true that drug testing violates one 's right to privacy , if it would benefit the company , the workers , and the employee himself , then it is justifiable

Under the utilitarian model , an ethical decision is a decision that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people (Jones et .al . 150

A utilitarian sees random drug testing as ethical because more employees and customers are protected from accidents caused by drug-using employees than those who are angered by having to submit to random drug test (Gomez , et .al . 104

Thus , it may permit subordination of the rights of a few individual if a greater aggregation of good results (Linzer 41

However , this theory clashes with the deontological theory which justifies action as right because of a past relationship that antedates the present action (Schermerhorn , Jr , et .al , 36

Under this approach , it is believed that each person has fundamental rights that should be protected and respected . A decision is unethical if it deprives an individual of fundamental human rights (Gomez , et .al 103

While the utilitarian theory determines the present goodness of an act because of its future consequences , the deontological theory emanates from the established relationship

These two ethical theories create an ethical dilemma . When two obligations conflict , the outcome is a deadlock

If one would follow one ethical principle , it would offer possible benefits but at the same time violates the other (Schermerhorn , Jr et .al 36

So , in to solve this dilemma , Ross , W .D introduced the concept of pluralism into the deontological theory . It offers some leeway in decision making and an opportunity to use discretion in weighing priorities among prima facie duties (as cited...