Does LongHorn Steakhouse Drug Test?
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It depends on the position and location. LongHorn Steakhouse, owned by Darden Restaurants, generally does not drug test hourly hires such as servers, hosts, and cooks during hiring. Management candidates are more likely to be screened, and any employee can be tested after a workplace accident or for a workers'-comp claim.
It depends. LongHorn Steakhouse is part of Darden Restaurants, and Darden does not run a blanket pre-employment drug test for hourly restaurant staff. Most servers, bartenders, hosts, line and prep cooks, and dishwashers report that they were not drug tested when hired. Where testing does come up, it is most often for management and manager-in-training candidates, and it can vary by location and individual general manager. Two other situations commonly trigger a test even for hourly staff: after a workplace accident, and when filing a workers'-compensation claim — you may be required to pass a drug screen to receive benefits. When a test is given it is a standard urine screen for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. Because policy varies by role and location, the reliable answer for a specific restaurant is to ask the hiring manager whether a drug screen is part of onboarding for the job you want.
Drug Testing by Position
| Position | Tested? | Test Type | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server / Bartender / Host | Rarely | Urine (if tested) | Post-accident, workers'-comp claim, reasonable suspicion |
| Line Cook / Prep Cook | Rarely | Urine (if tested) | Post-accident, workers'-comp claim, reasonable suspicion |
| Dishwasher / Busser | Rarely | Urine (if tested) | Post-accident, reasonable suspicion |
| Manager in Training | Sometimes | Urine | Pre-employment at many locations |
| Restaurant Manager / General Manager | Sometimes | Urine | Pre-employment; location-dependent |
Drug Test Type and Process
When LongHorn or its parent Darden administers a drug test, it is a standard urine screen collected at a third-party clinic and typically checking for marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. For most hourly restaurant roles, there is no pre-employment screen at all — hiring focuses on interviews, availability, and a background check. Testing is more common for salaried management candidates, and it can differ from one location and general manager to the next. Even without a pre-employment test, an hourly employee may be asked to test after a workplace accident (a slip, a burn, a knife injury) or when submitting a workers'-compensation claim, where passing a drug screen can be a condition of receiving benefits.
Marijuana Policy
Darden treats marijuana as a prohibited substance in its drug-free-workplace policy, but because most hourly roles are not pre-screened, off-duty cannabis use is rarely a barrier to being hired as a server, cook, or host. In states with legal medical or recreational marijuana, a positive result — when a test is even given — may be handled with more flexibility, especially for medical-card holders, though impairment on the job is never allowed. Management applicants who are screened should be prepared for THC to be part of the panel. There is no single, publicly posted national marijuana testing rule for LongHorn hourly staff, so practice varies by role, location, and state law.
Tips for Applicants
LongHorn Steakhouse is a realistic option if you are worried about a drug test, since most hourly hires are not screened at all. Apply through the official LongHorn careers site or in person, and if you want certainty, ask the hiring manager whether a drug test is part of onboarding for your specific role. Keep in mind that a workplace injury or a workers'-comp claim can trigger a test later, so treat the drug-free-workplace policy as real once you are on the job. A criminal record is generally not an automatic disqualifier for hourly restaurant work. If you are aiming for a management track, expect a higher chance of a pre-employment screen and plan accordingly.
Recent Policy Changes
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does LongHorn Steakhouse drug test servers and cooks?
- Usually not. Most servers, bartenders, hosts, and cooks report they were not drug tested when hired. Testing for hourly staff is uncommon and usually tied to a workplace accident or workers'-comp claim rather than pre-employment.
- Does LongHorn Steakhouse drug test for weed?
- For most hourly roles there is no pre-employment screen, so marijuana is rarely tested at hiring. Darden's policy lists marijuana as prohibited, and management candidates who are tested may have THC on the panel, but practice varies by location and state.
- Does LongHorn Steakhouse drug test managers?
- More often than hourly staff. Manager and manager-in-training candidates are the most likely to face a pre-employment urine screen, though it still depends on the location and general manager.
- Will I be drug tested after a workplace injury at LongHorn?
- Possibly. Even hourly employees who were not screened at hiring may be required to take a drug test after a workplace accident or when filing a workers'-compensation claim, where passing can be a condition of receiving benefits.
- What kind of drug test does LongHorn Steakhouse use?
- When a test is given, it is a standard urine screen at a third-party clinic, typically checking for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP.
- Does Darden Restaurants drug test?
- Darden, LongHorn's parent, does not run a company-wide pre-employment test for all hourly staff. Testing is more common for management and varies by brand, location, and manager, plus post-accident and reasonable-suspicion testing for everyone.
Take Action — Direct Links
- LongHorn Steakhouse Careers — Search and apply
Official LongHorn Steakhouse careers portal for hourly and management positions
- SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service: 1-800-662-4357
- NORML — State marijuana laws
State-by-state guide to marijuana legalization and workplace protections