Human Resources plays an important role in companies, from ensuring the right hiring decisions are made to staying compliant with DOL, FCRA and other regulations.
Below are some disturbing HR statistics that can be hard to believe, all of which any company can avoid with the proper pre-employment screening procedures.
1.) Substance abusers are 2.5 times more likely to be absent from work for eight days or more annually.
All absenteeism is a contributor to lost productivity, but among drug-using employees, absenteeism is more common. Not only are they absent from work more often, but they are also 3.6 times more likely to experience a workplace accident, and therefore five times more likely to file a workers’ comp claim.
2.) 49% of hiring managers surveyed reported catching a candidate lying on his/her resume.
According to the survey, 57% of the time, these lies get an applicant dismissed from consideration. Most of the time, candidates lied about their responsibilities or skill sets, but were also caught lying about their academic degrees and exaggerating their dates of employment. One candidate was even caught submitting samples of work that the interviewer had actually created.
3.) It is estimated that 75% of employees steal from their workplace, and that most of them do so repeatedly.
The rate of employee theft has been steadily increasing. A study on embezzlement found that there were 528 major embezzlement cases in the US in 2012, an 11% increase since 2011. The study also found that the average embezzlement scheme lasted almost five years and amounted to $25,000 a month, commonly through unauthorized or forged company checks. Retail theft is a similar situation, employee theft increased 5.5% from 2011 to 2012, and the trend is continuing.
4.) The average settlement for a negligent hiring lawsuit is almost $1 million.
In cases like these, employers could be liable for incidents if they did not conduct a background check prior to hiring. In one case, a nursing home was liable for $235,000 for hiring an unlicensed nurse with several criminal convictions. The employee assaulted an 80-year-old visitor to an infirm patient.
5.) Almost 2 million workers in the US report being victims of workplace violence annually.
Those at higher risk for workplace violence include heath care professionals, delivery drivers, law enforcement agents and women who exchange money with customers. Out of all the fatal workplace injuries in the US in 2010, 11% were homicides. Homicide is the fourth-leading cause of fatal workplace injuries in the US.
Fortunately, minimizing substance abuse, theft and workers’ comp claims in the workplace can be as easy as having a standard pre-employment screening process. Drug tests can detect several substances that are often abused, and they are effective in reducing absenteeism, workers’ comp claims, and employee turnover, while increasing productivity.
Additionally, a comprehensive background check can uncover pertinent information concerning an individual’s criminal history and reduce the likelihood of incidents. Properly vetting candidates significantly reduces the risk and liability to businesses, can help avoid costly fines, and makes for a more efficient, safer workforce.
