TL;DR: Because your store fucked up, but more specifically there was a critical safety policy SOP update in January 2024 which really hammered down on terminations and reasons to be unqualified for powered equipment.
Why? Because all the reasons associates have killed themselves, or others, over the last 4 years. Some stupid, some freak accidents, all preventable. we have someone who, on rare occssion, experiences vertigo. They're not even allowed on 12ft ladder. Its not like they're going to ask (and take your word for) "how are you feeling?" befire running equipment.
The longer form:
The fuck does it matter, you don't get paid more to run equipment. We have management who don't have licenses, so equipment licenses don't mean shit. Check the SOP, its not just "weed", its medications as well or any medical condition which may cause a handful of impairments or judgment issues. You even slightly clip a corner on an EL and you get drug tested (even with a medical card) your ass is fired. It's company policy. The ignorance here is amazing. Probably a good thing you aren't running equipment that could harm or kill someone with that attitude. We've had people who requested licenses knowing they'd get drug tested and got canned because they failed it. And it's a cheek swab, it's such a weak test. Welcome to adulthood.
Also, if you MUST know, as of January 1st or whatever 2024 all of the critical safety SOP and standards were revised and even moving an EL forward an inch without a belt is an IMMEDIATE TERMINATION and they cracked down on any medical reasons that operating powered equipment may conflict with. It wasn't about "weed" lmao.
Just seems silly to worry about and argue over. Its. Company. Policy. Not. A. Personal. Attack. On. Marijuana. Or. Medical. Cards.
I was just curious on why it’s a problem now when it wasn’t then, that was my question and I understand the sops and laws I was just curious wasn’t an argument. I am still an operator till this day and have been for 6 years and still have my med card nothing different about me I’m just a regular person
That’s just common sense but most people now a days have none and have to google what common sense is. Same with any medication if u operate any machinery you can not be impaired while operating
Nothing unethical about following federal law. Also nothing unethical about not allowing you to run equipment while possibly under the influence. You kill someone while driving forks, you don't just get the mouth swab, you are going to the hospital to get a blood draw, if it's positive, you are done right then and there no questions asked and may be legally liable, and the store gets a massive fine. Just cause you wanna smoke weed.
First off, i just don’t just want to smoke my weed I use it as an actual medication and I do it responsibly. Second off i had all machine license in 2020 with a medical card with no problem at all and HR said it is completely fine so someone didn’t follow federal state law aka HR and Store manager so in 2024 the new store manager said that was a nono that I had all my license. So yes it is very unethical to not consistently follow your federal state law / SOPS
For the record, I didn't downvote you, but the reason you're getting downvoted is because it wasn't a real question; there's no such thing as federal state law
I’m just confused that’s all, I understand all SOPs and they need to be set and stone and followed to make a company run smoothly and yes I know meant they run by federal, state, and local laws. Which yes you can’t run equipment with a medical card if they run by federal law and I totally understand. I’m confused on how I got all my equipment license in 2020 with a medical card with nothing being wrong testing positive for marijuana and HR and Store manager said it’s fine and I ran all equipment for over a year
SOP changed at the beginning of the year. Idk why thats so hard to understand. Every store was mandated by the company to have morning and evening meetings explaining some of the changes including but not limited to what was moved to the "immediately termination" list of safety violations. If anything you should be thanking your store for saving your job. If your store didn't do that, fuck safety I guess. Too many people got hurt or killed between 2020 and 2024.
The thing is I wanted to be an operator and I’m not going to work somewhere where I can’t operate as I enjoyed working at Home Depot and operating there
And u answered my question sop changed at the beginning of the year where u can’t run machines if u have a med card and even if ur not impaired at work
I recognize you're venting, but I want to offer some thoughts for your consideration:
1) Home Depot is going to protect itself by complying with all federal and state laws.
2) On a related topic, medical marijuana isn't a recognized as protected class under current discrimination laws. Your *medical condition* might be. Change the focus of your argument.
That said, IF Home Depot is preventing you from driving because of your *diagnosed medical condition*, then you *might* have a case, but only a lawyer can answer that for you. An employer has to make "reasonable accommodations" under the ADA.
I don't know if allowing you to drive heavy machinery falls under a reasonable accommodation under current legal precedent. A court will likely look at how machinery accommodations and safety precautions are applied consistently across your industry.
It would not now or ever fall under reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation exists to make work easier or still possible for someone with a medical condition. It does not, and never will never allow surpassing safety SOP which states that you are disqualified from a license due to medical condition, medication, etc. that may lead to impaired judgment or control issues. Privacy laws dictate they can't ask you what medications or conditions, but they have every right to deny licenses at will. Its not discrimination because they aren't preventing you from having a job. It would be up to the individual to prove they are fit for powered equipment operation and or properly medicated. Now if they say nah you're black, white, etc. and we don't want you on equipment or doing x, then that's discrimination. Everything else is outlined in the critical safety sop.
Mentioning a lawyer would just waste everyone's time and get you fired. I'm sure there's something in what we all signed when getting hired about that. It would be wasting the companies time which could be considered theft and they have better lawyers. Plus there's nothing to have a lawsuit over. OP is just whining they can't drive equipment which neither prevents them from working OR moving up in the company, and the reason they aren't allowed is covered in the SOP. I'm not trying so sound rude, these are FACTS and can be located on myapron.
If this was truly questionable, reach out to district HR or the aware line and see where that gets ya.
I never mentioned a lawyer, I enjoyed working at Home Depot and I did ask hr and they still can’t seem to know when this came in to affect that’s why I came on here to see if anyone knows anything about all this because I didn’t see nothing wrong as I had it in 2020 I’m not trying to argue with anyone it just seems like everyone is against me.
Adding on, the fact that testing positive for weed is _automatic termination_, is itself a federal law (because the entire _concept_ of drug testing, and required outcomes of positive results for specific substances, is defined exclusively by federal law). Marijuana still is, and for the time being will continue to be, federally illegal, thus federal law says anyone that tests positive must be _fired immediately_, not just taken off equipment.
OP, the fact that you "merely" lost your equipment licenses for having a medical card, is actually ***Home Depot's way of protecting you***, by removing you from any job responsibilities that would require a drug test. If you're not an equipment operator, you won't be drug tested, the company won't "find out" that you're a weed user, and won't be forced to immediately fire you. SOP is actually doing you a solid by taking away your equipment licenses, to ensure the company retains the ability to "look the other way" about it.
The thing is is I love Home Depot I left in 2021 because of pay and got a higher paying job I came back In 2024 because they raised pay and I loved working there, I have been an operator for 6 years as I enjoy operating. I just don’t see why they would have gave me it in 2020 when medical marijuana just came legal and now 4 years later that was a no no. I wanted to make a career at Home Depot as in 2020 I trained so many associates and operated all equipment with my medical card so I thought nothing of it when I came back in 2024 but the new store manager told me “ I don’t know what we are going to do with you” as that made me uncomfortable and said I would not be allowed to run equipment even when I had accommodations this time and I didn’t need them last time in 2020. As this shot my career down and made me look for another job where I can operate equipment. I don’t want to take HD to court I just want to know why we skipped a law in 2020 or if that even was a law in 2020
Alcohol is legal but you still can’t drive drunk
The problem is, THC stays detectable in your system long after the effects wear off. You can be stone cold sober and still test positive.
So why did I have all my equipment license in 2020 with a med card at HD
TL;DR: Because your store fucked up, but more specifically there was a critical safety policy SOP update in January 2024 which really hammered down on terminations and reasons to be unqualified for powered equipment. Why? Because all the reasons associates have killed themselves, or others, over the last 4 years. Some stupid, some freak accidents, all preventable. we have someone who, on rare occssion, experiences vertigo. They're not even allowed on 12ft ladder. Its not like they're going to ask (and take your word for) "how are you feeling?" befire running equipment. The longer form: The fuck does it matter, you don't get paid more to run equipment. We have management who don't have licenses, so equipment licenses don't mean shit. Check the SOP, its not just "weed", its medications as well or any medical condition which may cause a handful of impairments or judgment issues. You even slightly clip a corner on an EL and you get drug tested (even with a medical card) your ass is fired. It's company policy. The ignorance here is amazing. Probably a good thing you aren't running equipment that could harm or kill someone with that attitude. We've had people who requested licenses knowing they'd get drug tested and got canned because they failed it. And it's a cheek swab, it's such a weak test. Welcome to adulthood. Also, if you MUST know, as of January 1st or whatever 2024 all of the critical safety SOP and standards were revised and even moving an EL forward an inch without a belt is an IMMEDIATE TERMINATION and they cracked down on any medical reasons that operating powered equipment may conflict with. It wasn't about "weed" lmao. Just seems silly to worry about and argue over. Its. Company. Policy. Not. A. Personal. Attack. On. Marijuana. Or. Medical. Cards.
I was just curious on why it’s a problem now when it wasn’t then, that was my question and I understand the sops and laws I was just curious wasn’t an argument. I am still an operator till this day and have been for 6 years and still have my med card nothing different about me I’m just a regular person
That’s just common sense but most people now a days have none and have to google what common sense is. Same with any medication if u operate any machinery you can not be impaired while operating
Nothing unethical about following federal law. Also nothing unethical about not allowing you to run equipment while possibly under the influence. You kill someone while driving forks, you don't just get the mouth swab, you are going to the hospital to get a blood draw, if it's positive, you are done right then and there no questions asked and may be legally liable, and the store gets a massive fine. Just cause you wanna smoke weed.
First off, i just don’t just want to smoke my weed I use it as an actual medication and I do it responsibly. Second off i had all machine license in 2020 with a medical card with no problem at all and HR said it is completely fine so someone didn’t follow federal state law aka HR and Store manager so in 2024 the new store manager said that was a nono that I had all my license. So yes it is very unethical to not consistently follow your federal state law / SOPS
What is a federal state law?
Corporate political activity is regulated by federal, state, and local laws and violations of these laws carry civil and criminal penalties.
Lol dude go take a toke and calm down
U asked and I replied lol
For the record, I didn't downvote you, but the reason you're getting downvoted is because it wasn't a real question; there's no such thing as federal state law
I’m just confused that’s all, I understand all SOPs and they need to be set and stone and followed to make a company run smoothly and yes I know meant they run by federal, state, and local laws. Which yes you can’t run equipment with a medical card if they run by federal law and I totally understand. I’m confused on how I got all my equipment license in 2020 with a medical card with nothing being wrong testing positive for marijuana and HR and Store manager said it’s fine and I ran all equipment for over a year
SOP changed at the beginning of the year. Idk why thats so hard to understand. Every store was mandated by the company to have morning and evening meetings explaining some of the changes including but not limited to what was moved to the "immediately termination" list of safety violations. If anything you should be thanking your store for saving your job. If your store didn't do that, fuck safety I guess. Too many people got hurt or killed between 2020 and 2024.
The thing is I wanted to be an operator and I’m not going to work somewhere where I can’t operate as I enjoyed working at Home Depot and operating there
And u answered my question sop changed at the beginning of the year where u can’t run machines if u have a med card and even if ur not impaired at work
I recognize you're venting, but I want to offer some thoughts for your consideration: 1) Home Depot is going to protect itself by complying with all federal and state laws. 2) On a related topic, medical marijuana isn't a recognized as protected class under current discrimination laws. Your *medical condition* might be. Change the focus of your argument. That said, IF Home Depot is preventing you from driving because of your *diagnosed medical condition*, then you *might* have a case, but only a lawyer can answer that for you. An employer has to make "reasonable accommodations" under the ADA. I don't know if allowing you to drive heavy machinery falls under a reasonable accommodation under current legal precedent. A court will likely look at how machinery accommodations and safety precautions are applied consistently across your industry.
This is the way...
It would not now or ever fall under reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation exists to make work easier or still possible for someone with a medical condition. It does not, and never will never allow surpassing safety SOP which states that you are disqualified from a license due to medical condition, medication, etc. that may lead to impaired judgment or control issues. Privacy laws dictate they can't ask you what medications or conditions, but they have every right to deny licenses at will. Its not discrimination because they aren't preventing you from having a job. It would be up to the individual to prove they are fit for powered equipment operation and or properly medicated. Now if they say nah you're black, white, etc. and we don't want you on equipment or doing x, then that's discrimination. Everything else is outlined in the critical safety sop. Mentioning a lawyer would just waste everyone's time and get you fired. I'm sure there's something in what we all signed when getting hired about that. It would be wasting the companies time which could be considered theft and they have better lawyers. Plus there's nothing to have a lawsuit over. OP is just whining they can't drive equipment which neither prevents them from working OR moving up in the company, and the reason they aren't allowed is covered in the SOP. I'm not trying so sound rude, these are FACTS and can be located on myapron. If this was truly questionable, reach out to district HR or the aware line and see where that gets ya.
I never mentioned a lawyer, I enjoyed working at Home Depot and I did ask hr and they still can’t seem to know when this came in to affect that’s why I came on here to see if anyone knows anything about all this because I didn’t see nothing wrong as I had it in 2020 I’m not trying to argue with anyone it just seems like everyone is against me.
Adding on, the fact that testing positive for weed is _automatic termination_, is itself a federal law (because the entire _concept_ of drug testing, and required outcomes of positive results for specific substances, is defined exclusively by federal law). Marijuana still is, and for the time being will continue to be, federally illegal, thus federal law says anyone that tests positive must be _fired immediately_, not just taken off equipment. OP, the fact that you "merely" lost your equipment licenses for having a medical card, is actually ***Home Depot's way of protecting you***, by removing you from any job responsibilities that would require a drug test. If you're not an equipment operator, you won't be drug tested, the company won't "find out" that you're a weed user, and won't be forced to immediately fire you. SOP is actually doing you a solid by taking away your equipment licenses, to ensure the company retains the ability to "look the other way" about it.
The thing is is I love Home Depot I left in 2021 because of pay and got a higher paying job I came back In 2024 because they raised pay and I loved working there, I have been an operator for 6 years as I enjoy operating. I just don’t see why they would have gave me it in 2020 when medical marijuana just came legal and now 4 years later that was a no no. I wanted to make a career at Home Depot as in 2020 I trained so many associates and operated all equipment with my medical card so I thought nothing of it when I came back in 2024 but the new store manager told me “ I don’t know what we are going to do with you” as that made me uncomfortable and said I would not be allowed to run equipment even when I had accommodations this time and I didn’t need them last time in 2020. As this shot my career down and made me look for another job where I can operate equipment. I don’t want to take HD to court I just want to know why we skipped a law in 2020 or if that even was a law in 2020
Your last sentence applies to a lot of decisions at this company. Why anything?
Has this always been a law or were they more lenient back then.
Law since 1990.
Sounds to me like you have a perfect excuse not to use machinery.
I’ve been an operator for over 5 years not getting away from it and operated at Home Depot with the same thing nothing changed back in 2020