ROI on Background Checks in the Hospitality Industry
July 9 2019
It’s estimated that a job is added every 2.5 seconds in the hospitality industry. With the labor market already tight, property owners are eager to jump on new applicants. Due to the immense demand for workers, it might be tempting to simply skip the background check and have your candidates get right to work—but a comprehensive screening program not only protects your business and your guests, it saves your company money due to the high cost of turnover in hospitality industry.
The Cost of a Bad Hire
%
Hospitality avg criminal hit rate in the last decade
Hiring the wrong person can have a ripple effect on your business’s finances. Recruiting efforts, for example, take time and money. Recruiters must pay for job ads as well as spend time reviewing resumes, interviewing, and evaluating candidates. The longer that position sits open, the more it’ll cost you – and in today’s tight job market, openings for even entry-level positions can take weeks to fill.
That’s just the recruiting side of things. A bad hire can cost you thousands in lost productivity, onboarding costs, and more.
The Cost of Employee Turnover
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the hospitality sector has a turnover rate of 73.8%. For comparison, experts consider a ‘healthy’ turnover rate to be in the 10-15% range. That figure is shocking by itself; it gets even worse when you realize how much it’s costing businesses. One study found that employee turnover costs, on average, $5,864 per employee. If your business has 300 employees and experiences employee turnover at even half the industry rate, the high cost of turnover in hospitality industry is still costing your company almost $700,000 a year. But for most properties, this number is a lot higher.
There are a number of ways to improve employee retention, such as offering competitive benefits and higher pay or creating a positive work culture.
But an often-overlooked partner to a healthy turnover rate? Background screening.
The Cost of a Background Check
A new employee is an investment. Nothing is worse than going through the interview process with an applicant only to discover that they exaggerated the experience on their resume—forcing you to start the whole process over again. Screening improves employee retention by ensuring you’re not putting money into onboarding efforts for a hire that ultimately won’t work out.
Screening is a small price to pay compared to the expense of alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace and the potentially catastrophic costs of fraud. By implementing a comprehensive background screening program, you can ensure that your applicants don’t have a criminal history, that they possess the experience and skills required for the job, and that they will maintain the standards of a drug-free workplace.
%
of criminal offenses in the hospitality industry were felonies
Ultimately, not screening your candidates will cost you more than skipping out on it saves. Companies make an investment every time they onboard a new hire; background checks and drug screening ensure those investments are worthwhile in the end. Keep this in mind as you move forward with your hiring decisions and continue to grow your business.
So how much does a background check cost? To partner with an experienced background screening provider that understands your industry, contact InfoMart.
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.