Many employers know that screening employees before they start work is essential for the safety of the company, employee and their co-workers. Unfortunately, many employers are unaware that these methods are often out-of-date and inaccurate in predicting the real risk of on the job injury.
Companies have traditionally used one of two methods:
- Develop a detailed description of job-related functions and ask the applicant whether he or she is capable of handling the tasks.
This method depends entirely on the honesty and knowledge of the applicant in answering the question.
- Develop a post-offer Functional Capacity Evaluation where “conditionally” hired applicants are required to simulate the job in the presence of trained physical therapists or medical personnel.
This process can take hours to complete, is very subjective, has a rejection rate of 1% in a population of applicants tested, and can cause injury to the applicant resulting in a Workers’ Compensation or liability claim.
The typical rejection rate for more traditional and less effective applicant testing is 1%. The rejection rate for pre-employment strength testing is 16%. This means that 15% of applicants “unfit” for the job are missed by current testing standards. For some industries, The Horton Group has seen rejection rates as high as 30%.
Material posted on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal opinion or medical advice. Contact your legal representative or medical professional for information specific to your legal or medical needs.
