Do Drug Tests & Criminal Background Checks Help Make the Workplace Safe?

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 80percent of human resources (HR) professionals surveyed say they conduct criminal background checks on potential hires. Nearly all Fortune 500 companies conduct drug testing. These policies are in place for the safety of all employees and assets.

Safety

• Companies are required to provide a reasonably safe work environment. Knowing the background of a new hire can help reduce risks to the company and other employees. People with drug and/or criminal histories can be dangerous to the workplace physically and financially.

Testing

• A prospective employee that fails a drug test probably isn't a good candidate for hire. With drug use often comes tardiness, excessive absence and lessened productivity. Drug use could bring crime and violence into the workplace. Increased accidents caused by an employee under the influence of a controlled substance cost the company a lot of money, not to mention a higher turnover rate.

Background Checks

• Conducting background checks on prospective employees uncovers past crimes that could be detrimental to the company. Turning down an interviewee with a history of stealing may reduce company theft and fraud, thus increasing profitability. Discovering a conviction for a crime in a new hire's past can prevent violence from entering and harming the workplace. An employee's wrong-doing can give a company a bad name, so starting with the best candidate possible will temper risks and lower employee turn-over.