Hospitality Services Industry
In the hospitality industry, trust is everything. Whether you're running a hotel or a nightclub, your guests depend on your employees to provide a safe, welcoming environment. But how can you be sure that your staff will meet these high expectations? The answer lies in comprehensive background checks and drug testing.
With a workforce that frequently deals with sensitive customer information, alcohol, cash, and personal belongings, it's crucial to ensure that your team is qualified and trustworthy. The hospitality sector is known for its high turnover, often putting employers in a position where quick hiring is necessary. However, hiring the wrong candidate can be costly—not just in terms of money, but also reputation.
Create a safe and professional guest experience. Call (888) 378-2499 or register online to start screening your hospitality staff.
Substance Abuse and Legal Responsibilities in Hospitality Industry
Substance Abuse Concerns
Substance abuse among hospitality workers is a serious issue. The accommodations and food services sector has the highest rate of illicit drug use of any U.S. industry, with 19.1% of workers using illegal drugs in the past month.
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1 in 5 hospitality workers uses drugs or alcohol on the job
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Around 17% of restaurant workers have a diagnosed substance abuse disorder
These widespread issues can lead to higher absenteeism, accidents, and misconduct. To combat this, many hospitality businesses implement drug testing policies to help deter substance abuse, reduce workplace incidents, and create a safer, more productive environment.
Drug Testing Laws and Regulations
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Drug-Free Workplace Act (1988): Employers can create drug testing policies to deter substance abuse.
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Americans With Disabilities Act: Prohibits discrimination against recovering alcoholics or drug users who have completed treatment.
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Civil Rights Act of 1964: Ensures non-discriminatory treatment in hiring and drug testing based on race, sex, or nationality.
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Family and Medical Leave Act (1993): Provides job-protected leave for employees dealing with substance abuse treatment or related health issues.
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National Labor Relations Act (1935): Requires unionized employers to negotiate drug testing policies with unions.
Hospitality Industry Crime Stories
In Indian Rocks Beach, FL, in 2022, a former hotel employee stole more than $3,500 from hotel guests after making a key card and accessing the rooms herself. In June of that year, she stole a wallet from a Louisiana resident and used a credit card at a local 7-11 and Family Dollar. She was caught on surveillance footage at both locations wearing hotel clothing. The next day she stole from three rooms, altogether a total of about $4,200.00.
In 2019, a Bay City, Michigan bar manager was arrested for embezzling about $30,000 from the bar he managed. The 36-year-old man stole the money from Keno funds, a Michigan lottery draw game. After each shift, the man was responsible for printing off slips stating how much money was owed to the state. However, he was printing the slips four hours before the bar closed and used the extra money to purchase his own Keno tickets. He was also seen on the surveillance camera unplugging the Keno machine and trying to break it.
Drug Testing Services
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Why Background Checks Matter in the Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry faces unique risks that make diligent employee screening essential for success. Some of these challenges include:
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Burglary (theft)
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Physical assault
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Vehicle break-ins
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Prostitution
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Even murder
Employee Theft
Employee theft is one of the most common crimes in the hospitality industry. In fact, the five most common crimes in hotels include:
A striking example comes from the casino sector. Nevada casinos report about 500 arrests annually, and roughly 25% of those arrested are employees, often driven by drug addiction and financial problems. According to Tourism and Hospitality Research, up to 75% of employees have admitted to theft in their workplaces.
Hospitality Employee Background Check Laws:
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EEOC Compliance: Employers must ensure fair hiring practices, prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex, religion, etc.
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FCRA Compliance: Employers must inform applicants in writing before obtaining background checks and obtain written permission.
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Adverse Action: Applicants must be given written notice beforehand with a copy of the consumer report and a summary of their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
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Equal Standards: Background checks should be applied consistently across all applicants.
Background Check Services
We run background checks 100% online. Fast, reliable, and built for the Hospitality Services industry. No scheduling, no delays. Just results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hotel jobs drug test?
This depends on the company. Although there are no federal laws mandating drug testing for most private employers, there are also no laws that prohibit drug testing programs. Many hotels require drug testing of their staff as part of a formal policy.
Hospitality employees often have access to alcohol and sometimes illicit substances, so testing helps deter misuse. This applies to restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts, and even housekeeping departments. Although not legally required, any workplace in hospitality can benefit from maintaining a drug-free environment.
How can hotels implement drug testing for employees?
Hotels can implement employee drug testing by first learning about their local, state, and federal laws on workplace drug testing. With this legal foundation, management should develop a clear written drug testing policy that outlines when and how tests are conducted. It's important to provide all applicants and employees with a copy of the policy so they understand the expectations and procedures. Consistent enforcement of this policy then helps ensure fairness and effectiveness.
What does a drug test for hospitality employees include?
A comprehensive drug testing program for hospitality staff typically includes several types of testing: pre-employment screening, random drug tests, testing for reasonable suspicion (if an employee is suspected of using), and post-incident testing after any workplace accidents. The drug tests themselves check for a range of substances. A standard 5-panel drug test, for example, will detect common illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines.
Do hotels do background checks on employees?
Hospitality employees work directly with customers and often have access to valuable assets – including cash registers, payment systems, hotel room keys, food and alcohol inventory, and guests' personal belongings. Because of this high level of trust and access, thorough background checks are often performed in the industry. Pre-employment screening helps prevent hiring someone with a history of theft, fraud, or violence, thereby reducing the chance of incidents like stealing from guests or other criminal behavior in the workplace.
What do hotels look for in a background check?
Hotels conducting background checks on applicants are usually looking for any past issues that could indicate a risk. This includes checking for criminal history (such as theft or violence records) and sex offender registry status, verifying past employment and references, and confirming the candidate's education or certifications. Essentially, hotel employers want to ensure an applicant can be trusted around guests and their belongings, so they focus on information that speaks to an individual's honesty and reliability.
What shows up on a hotel and hospitality background check?
A typical hospitality background check report will show criminal records (like past arrests or convictions) and may reveal if the person is listed on the sex offender registry. It also usually includes verification of the person's employment history and education credentials. In some cases, it might include reference check feedback or professional license verification if relevant. All of this information helps paint a picture of the candidate's background integrity.
Why Health Street
With over a decade of experience in employee screening, Health Street offers a smooth, reliable process for the hospitality industry, ensuring fast results and compliance with every hire. Here's why you should choose us:
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Slow Turnaround: Many competitors don't have a refine process, which causes delayed results, disrupting your hiring process and impacting your team's performance. With Health Street, we provide fast, accurate results so you can make quick, informed decisions.
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Limited Testing Options: Health Street offers a wide range of drug testing options, including pre-employment, random, and post-incident screenings. Other providers may not offer the same level of flexibility and comprehensive services.
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Inaccurate Reports: Inconsistent or poor-quality reports from other companies can lead to costly hiring mistakes. At Health Street, we ensure accurate results, and our drug test results are backed by SAMHSA-certified laboratories.
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Limited Coverage: With many locations across the U.S., Health Street provides nationwide coverage, and background checks are performed entirely online. Other companies may have more limited geographic reach or outdated technology, causing the process to move slower and feel clunky.
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Poor Support: Health Street offers responsive customer service, available to assist with any questions or issues at every step of the screening process. Unlike some competitors, we provide the support you need when you need it.
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Lack of Control & Flexibility: With Health Street's proprietary GLASS app, you gain full control to customize, manage, and secure your data quickly. Competitors often rely on third parties, meaning you have less control, slower updates on data security, and roadblocks that feel impossible to overcome.
By partnering with Health Street, you get a seamless, efficient, and reliable screening solution—helping you hire the right team with confidence.
Citations
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Acosta, R. (2019, November 26). Bay City man charged with embezzling nearly $30,000 from downtown bar. MLive. https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2019/11/bay-city-man-charged-with-embezzling-nearly-30000-from-downtown-bar.html
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Congress.gov. (n.d.). H.R.1 - Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1
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Federal Trade Commission. (n.d.). Fair Credit Reporting Act. https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act
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Gambling Insider. (2022, April 11). Cheating in casinos: "Employees make up 25% of arrests". https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news/16015/cheating-in-casinos-employees-make-up-25-of-arrests
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Goh, E., & Kong, S. (2018). Theft in the hotel workplace: Exploring frontline employees' perceptions towards hotel employee theft. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 18(4), 442–455. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26510751
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Lee, S. H. (J.), & Lee, J. (n.d.). Cases of employee theft in the hospitality industry. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Cases, 9(2), 40–46. https://www.chrie.org/assets/docs/JHTC-case-notes/JHTC-vol-9/JHTC_9_2_Lee_Case.pdf
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National Labor Relations Board. (n.d.). The law. https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Federal laws and regulations. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/drug-free-workplace/employer-resources/federal-laws
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Tucker, R. (2022, July 11). Pinellas County hotel employee steals over $4,000 from guests. WFLA. https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county-hotel-employee-steals-over-4000-from-guests/
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U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Background checks: What employers need to know. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/background-checks-what-employers-need-know
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U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.). Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/
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U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. (1990). Training and Employment Information Notice No. 15-90. https://oui.doleta.gov/dmstree/tein/tein_pre93/tein_15-90.htm
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U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). Public Law 88-352. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-78/pdf/STATUTE-78-Pg241.pdf
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Your Restaurant Business. (2022, May 23). How to handle substance abuse in the hospitality industry. https://www.yourrestaurantbusiness.com/how-to-handle-substance-abuse-in-the-hospitality-industry/