Going to an interview tomorrow. Job is with a recruitment agency for large Post company. Read in some reviews that the agency makes people pay for drug and fitness assessments. Think it's a bit suss personally as I don't have the job as such. Have gotten this job previously through other recruitment agencies and testing was free. Thoughts and what would they cost…?
Recruitment Agency, Candidates Paying for Drug and Medical/Fitness Testing
Cave Fire on 06/04/2025 - 20:41
Last edited 06/04/2025 - 21:18
Last edited 06/04/2025 - 21:18
Comments
Ask them or phone Fair Work Australia on 13 13 94. before your interview
I work in the recruitment field (not a recruiter, work with recruitment teams) and I've worked at several very large companies in Australia plus a large agency that conduct drug and alcohol screening - none make people pay for it themselves.
It's counterintuitive to do so, firstly because it's not that expensive but mostly because it can't be controlled. Everywhere I've worked we pay for it but we also decide what exactly is tested and the results get sent directly to us, so there's no way to manipulate the results.
I've worked at a place where I had to pay for my own police check and had it reimbursed, and it's the norm with working with children certificates (a company can't order it on behalf of an individual) but nothing medical related.
yeah seems suss that I/the candidate would have to pay.
a company can't order it on behalf of an individual
For a police check they can. The company pre-pays for it and then the individual is sent the details to submit and sign. (I've organized this numerous times).
Yes, but I specifically said working with children, not police checks.
This is like businesses that get you to complete the induction online at home before you start getting paid.
I work for a large national company (transport/logistics).
Prob not same company as OP … But when applying, had to pay for DoA test myself (fitness test was paid by company).
At time - back around 2018 - when applying for jobs in industry… It was the norm / pre-req when applying.
Guess something written in their EBA's … So don't know how much help fair work would be?
If you haven't signed the employment contract you aren't under the EBA.
Thoughts and what would they cost…?
Could see seen like WWCC, you have to pay for that these days by most places.
I feel it would only be fair for you to pay for them once you had been offered the job though.
aka you have the job if you pass these checks. Until that point, unfair to ask 20 people to pay for checks when only giving the job to say 1 person.
This sounds insane to me. Send 100 to XYZ to get DaA test. And only offer 1 person the job. Smells fishy to me.
Only way I would agree to this is if you were refunded the costs if you don't get the job.It's quite normal considering most private sector employers require you to pay for your own background checks.
My first thought: Is the recruitment agency and drug/fitness test company owned by the same people?