Workplace research shows an Employee is as much as 32x’s more likely to be injured if they don’t have the strength to do their job. Not only does hiring someone who is not physically able to perform the job mean that an employer may have to absorb the costs of attrition, but it could risk paying out a sizable workers’ compensation claim plus the indirect costs of lost wages. All told, the cost of a new employee who is unfit for duty could result in a $25,000, $50,000, or even in some cases up to a $100,000 hiring mistake.

Employers are at a greater risk of a $100,000 hiring mistake if they extend an offer of employment to an individual who has suffered a previous injury, has a work history of physically demanding work, or is simply older. While the law prohibits employers from asking job candidates about previous injuries and/or age during the interview process, employers may receive medical information, including previous injuries, from a post offer physical strength test if this information was gathered to ensure that they are physically able to undergo such testing. Such testing ensures that a new employee can safely perform the essential functions of their job. Without it, hiring professionals are gambling with their job offers that could cost their employer up to and possibly more than $100,000.