Current topic:
Drug Alcohol Testing
Needed in Hospitality, Construction, Wholesale Industries
April 2008
According to a report released this week by Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, hospitality workers have the highest rate of serious alcohol problems among U.S. industries, with 15% of workers suffering from alcohol-related problems. Close behind are the construction and wholesale industries, reminding us that background screening must involve drug alcohol testing in these types of workplace environments.
Alcohol abuse costs American businesses an estimated $134 billion in productivity losses, including missed work, alcohol-related illness, premature death, and crime.
But uncovering alcoholics or those who abuse alcohol at work is a tricky business; 85% of heavy drinkers work, which is why background screening and drug alcohol testing are so important.
However there are signs that a savvy employer can look for. According to ensuringsolutions.org, "people with alcoholism and problem drinkers are more likely than other workers to have had three or more employers during the last year; to have missed work more than two days in the past month due to illness or injury; and to have skipped work more than two days in the past month." They are also more likely to be to absent regularly, show up late or leave early; to feel sick at work; to sleep on the job; to perform poorly; or to argue with their coworkers.
Finally, people with chronic drinking problems are five times more likely to file workmen's compensation claims; and they are more likely to cause injuries to themselves or others while on the job.
Background screening in the form of drug alcohol testing is the employers best defense against on-the-job drinkers. Not only should pre-employment testing be standard procedure, but random testing, post-accident testing, and "reasonable suspicion" testing can all serve to minimize the dangers of workplace drinking as well as the costs absorbed by business owners and corporations.
Not-so-coincidentally, hospitality, construction, and the wholesale industries are also rife with workplace accidents, a fact that should only further highlight the very real need for quality background screening in these fields, in order to protect both the work force and the company as a whole.
Call EBI to discuss background screening for your firm through a custom program to suit your company's needs.
Our thorough background screening programs can make the difference in helping ensure you're candidates are who
they say they are
Criminal records searches. Random drug testing. Reference checks. Everything for a comprehensive picture of your prospective employees.
Call us at 800.324.7700 for details.
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