Case Studies
Background Investigations
The Problem:
A bank was considering hiring a particular person for a teller position at a local branch and wanted more information on the prospective employee.
Kroll was engaged to help the bank learn more about the candidate in order to make an informed hiring decision.
The Kroll Solution:
Kroll performed a background search, including a Social Security number verification and a search of county criminal records.
The Result:
The research revealed that the candidate had altered his Social Security number and used an alias in his authorization and release form. A subsequent search of criminal records revealed that the man had been convicted of theft and embezzlement in two jurisdictions.
Substance Abuse Statistics
Studies show that alcohol and other drug users use three times as many sick days.
-- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Drug users are absent from work an average of five days per month due to drug use.
-- U.S. Department of Labor
Drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace cause 65% of on-the-job accidents.
-- Department of Labor
Substance abusers are 10 times more likely to steal from the company or from other employees.
-- U.S. Department of Labor
Substance abusers use three times the normal level of employee health benefits and incur 300% higher medical costs.
-- U.S. Department of Labor
Thirty-eight percent to 50% of all workers’ compensation claims are related to the abuse of alcohol or drugs in the workplace.
-- U.S. Department of Labor
Drug-using employees are five times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim.
-- National Institute on Drug Abuse
Statistics such as these prove that substance abuse in the workplace is an issue that employers need to address, but it is also an issue for which there is an answer. Companies that began substance abuse testing programs experienced the following results:
- A construction company with 60 employees reduced workers’ compensation claims by $50,000.
- A manufacturer with 560 employees experienced a 30% to 35% decrease in industrial accidents.
- An electric supply company with 150 employees experienced a 39% decrease in absenteeism and a 36% increase in productivity.
- A study of the economic impact of substance abuse treatment in an Ohio company found a 91% decrease in absenteeism and an 88% decrease in problems with supervisors.
-- U.S. Department of Labor
A small plumbing company in Washington, D.C., saved $385,000 in one year by establishing a drug-free workplace program. The company attributed the savings to a decrease in the number of accidents, resulting in lower workers’ compensation costs and lower vehicle insurance premiums. This company now has a waiting list of top-flight mechanics wanting to work in its drug-free environment, saving the company $20,000 a year on personnel advertising costs. Additionally, the proportion of apprentices completing a two-year training course has increased from 25% to 75%, resulting in a savings of $165,000.
-- U.S. Department of Labor
Workplace Violence Prevention
The Problem:
After a string of highly publicized cases of workplace violence across the country, a security manager at a large corporation was concerned about the potential for violence at his own company.
The security manager wanted to learn more about workplace violence and attended the seminar "Avoiding Violence in the Workplace” presented by Kroll. The seminar addresses such points as how to identify the typical offender profile and conflicts that lead to violent acts, de-escalation techniques and proactive avoidance practices.
The Kroll Solution:
When the seminar was over, the manager realized one of his employees fit the offender profile. He spoke with the Kroll instructor, who suggested appropriate steps he should take.
The Result:
Once back at work, the manager used corporate security and local law enforcement to search the employee's car that was parked on company property. A firearm was found and the employee was terminated. He then led the police on a high-speed chase that resulted in his arrest.
