Screening Hotel Employees and Psychometric Testing

Screening hotel employees should involve aEach hotel should check every applicant for drugs
degree of psychometric testing in order tothrough a standard urine test, and should also
determine if the applicant is suitable for the typemake it a a routine standard test for existing
of work involved. Hotel employees have aemployees. Apart from any other consideration,
particularly close relationship with other employeesan employee that is dependent on drugs might be
in addition to exposure to very tempting situationsmore liable to be tempted by a guest's open door.
for those with a criminal tendency.This is a sad fact of life that cannot be denied. A
For that reason, the normal backgroundlarge proportion of crime in most countries in the
employment screening cannot be ignored, and anyworld is now drugs related and you cannot afford
psychometric testing carried out should beto employ an addict in a hotel.
additional to all of the other pre-employmentThe psychometric testing previously referred to
checks that are normally carried out on potentialrelates to a tool that each hotel can design in
new employees.association with a professional psychometric
The legal consequences of a hotel employingscreening company that is designed to determine
somebody without carrying out suitable andthe suitability of a candidate for hotel work. This is
sufficient pre-employment screening, and thatdone by means of a series of specially designed
person going on to assault or rob from a guest,multi-choice questions. It can be altered to suit
are too severe for any hotel management toeach position within the hotel from the top to the
contemplate, and so complete and thoroughbottom.
screening is essential. There is a duty of care, notThe benefit of the psychometric test is that it
only to the hotel guests, but also to the otherdoes what the normal background employment
employees and contractors dependent upon thescreening investigations cannot do: it determines
success of the hotel for their livelihood.whether or not a particular potential hotel
With regard to the traditional background checks,employee has the right attitude and qualities
all previous employment must be checked out,needed to communicate well with guests and
even if not relevant to the hotel industry. You arework in close contact with fellow employees as
looking here for anything that could suggestpart of a large team. It is very useful information
unsuitability for this type of work, such as anto have if you are a hotel manager seeking a
employee who prefers to work alone and finds itnew employee.
difficult to be a team player. Hotel work is veryIt is also claimed that psychometric screening can
much team work, and anybody who cannot workreveal a criminal tendency, even if the candidate
closely with others would not be suitable.has had no previous criminal record, although such
With previous employment you are looking forconclusions should be considered very carefully
employment gaps, where the applicant appearsand it is not recommended that they be provided
not have had a job. These periods have to beas a reason for rejection of the application.
investigated. The same is true of any gaps inMany hotels operate their own screening tool that
residential addresses provided. Either could indicatehas been designed around that specific hotel. It is
a term of imprisonment that the applicant iscertainly something to consider as an addition to
naturally trying to hide. Although there is nothe traditional employment screening procedures
national criminal record database in the USA, youthat are routinely carried out, either by you, or by
can check the local court records during theseemployment background screening professionals.
periods that have not been explained.In conclusion, then, screening hotel employees
You should then be able to find any criminal casesrequires everything that you would do for any
that explain them. In most cases it will beother form of employment, plus a bit extra. That
necessary to attend personally to check theextra is due both to the nature of the job and
records, so this is often done by a third partythe fact that the employee may be in close
professional investigator that knows how to do itcontact with guests and and also their belongings.
effectively, and is generally known by, and hasAs already stated, the need for good teamwork
the help of, the court officials in the investigation.is also not to be forgotten since that also required
Medical checks will also be necessary, and althougha particular type of individual. Psychometric
the potential employee can refuse, you can alsoscreening can help with these, but must be
refuse the job. It is in your interests to know ifdesigned by professionals qualified in this type of
the applicant has any condition that could affectwork. However, don't forget the traditional
your guests and also his or her ability to do thebackground checking methods that provide the
job. You cannot discriminate for genuine disability,history of the candidate that are just as
but you have to know if any specialimportant in screening hotel employees as an
accommodations would be necessary.applicant for any other form of work.