A Lemon Cherry technician arrives at a storage facility in Lancashire for what should be routine random screening. Two employees test positive for substances that morning. Nothing unusual there, until the Site Manager checks the employment records later that day.
One of them had started just three weeks ago.
Three weeks. The company spent thousands recruiting, onboarding, and training someone who should never have been in a safety-critical role. Now they're facing potential disciplinary action, retraining costs, possible incident liability, and starting the hiring process all over again.
This scenario plays out across the UK every single month. The mistake? Skipping pre-employment screening for "urgent" hires.
The Real Cost of Getting It Wrong
When you hire someone for a safety-critical role without proper screening, you're not just risking a failed test down the line. Here's what that three-week employee actually cost the storage facility:
- Recruitment expenses: £800 (advertising, agency fees, interview time)
- Training investment: £2,400 (3 weeks at £800 per week including supervision)
- Lost productivity: £1,200 (work not completed to standard)
- Replacement hiring: £800 (starting the process again)
- Potential incident costs: £6,800 (the average cost of a workplace accident in warehousing)
Total potential cost: £12,000 – and that's before considering reputation damage or regulatory scrutiny.
Why Smart Employers Always Screen First
Pre-employment screening isn't about catching people out. It's about ensuring everyone who joins your team can work safely from day one.
The storage facility learned this the hard way. After implementing mandatory pre-employment screening, they haven't had a single positive result in new hires over 18 months. The screening process filters out unsuitable candidates before they become expensive mistakes.
What Proper Pre-Employment Screening Looks Like
1. Make It Part of the Job Offer Your conditional offer should clearly state: "This position is subject to satisfactory pre-employment drug and alcohol screening." No exceptions, no rush jobs.
2. Use Professional, Certified Testing Home testing kits or cheap alternatives create legal vulnerabilities. Professional screening with chain of custody documentation protects both you and the candidate.
3. Be Consistent and Fair Screen every candidate for safety-critical positions. Selective screening opens you up to discrimination claims.
The Three-Week Test: A Wake-Up Call
That Lancashire storage facility now asks themselves: "Would we rather invest in proper pre-employment screening, or face the £12,000 cost of the wrong hire?"
The answer transformed their hiring process.
Before screening: 2-3 problematic hires per year, constant safety concerns, high turnover in critical roles.
After screening: Zero positive results in new hires, improved safety culture, reduced insurance premiums.
Common Questions About Pre-Employment Screening
"But we need someone urgently" Urgent hires who can't do the job safely aren't urgent – they're liabilities. A brief delay for screening prevents months of problems.
"What if good candidates refuse?" Candidates who refuse screening for safety-critical roles aren't good candidates. Professional workers understand and respect safety requirements.
"Isn't it expensive?" The cost of pre-employment screening is minimal compared to one day's wages for most roles. Compare that to the £12,000 cost of getting it wrong.
Getting Started with Pre-Employment Screening
Your pre-employment screening programme should cover:
- Substance testing appropriate to your industry
- Clear communication to candidates about requirements
- Consistent application across all safety-critical roles
- Professional handling with proper chain of custody
- Quick turnaround to avoid delaying good hires
The most successful programmes integrate seamlessly into existing recruitment processes. Candidates appreciate transparency, and you gain confidence in every hire.
Your Next Step
That three-week employee at the storage facility could have been avoided entirely with proper pre-employment screening. Don't let your next urgent hire become a £12,000 mistake.
Ready to protect your business with professional pre-employment screening? Our Home Office approved equipment and experienced team ensure accurate results with complete confidentiality.
Contact Lemon Cherry today for a consultation about implementing pre-employment screening that actually reduces workplace risk.
