Workplace misconduct experts, Fama, uncovers misconduct issues in over 1 in 10 candidates in 2023

LOS ANGELES — Fama Technologies, the leader in online workplace misconduct screening, released its annual “State of Misconduct at Work in 2023“ research. The study reveals concerning trends in workplace behavior across industries, showing that more than 10% of candidates were engaging in misconduct, doubling the acceptable 5% threshold.

This year’s report emphasizes the growing issue of misconduct in the workplace, with 8 of the 9 industries failing to meet the standard benchmark. This year’s report also showed a dramatic increase in misconduct behavior online. Of those who engage in misconduct their online misconduct activity increased by 40% YOY. Misconduct levels and business impact underscore the critical need for companies to implement comprehensive screening processes to mitigate risks, protect their brand, and ensure a safe and profitable working environment.

“Protecting businesses by assisting them in hiring the best candidates has always been our mission. Understanding the extent and nature of workplace misconduct is crucial for building a supportive work environment and fostering scalable business success,” said Ben Mones, CEO and Founder of Fama. “Our findings this year point to an urgent need for businesses to adopt robust screening practices especially in light of the dramatic increase in the quantity of misconduct activity. As shown in our research, preemptively identifying potential misconduct can significantly benefit organizations, echoing Harvard Business School’s findings that removing a toxic employee is twice as valuable as hiring a top performer.”

Key Highlights from the 2023 State of Misconduct at Work:

• 1 in 20 workers engaging in misconduct leads to significant business impact – known as the 5% threshold. Yet, 1 in 10 job candidates were found with misconduct issues in 2023. 
• Content with misconduct increased 40% YoY, meaning that candidates who were engaging in misconduct engaged in more of it in 2023 over 2022.  

• 8 of 9 industries failed to successfully mitigate misconduct below the 5% threshold, one additional industry failing this year’s benchmark. 
• Industries with the most misconduct included Consumer Services, Media and Entertainment, and Education. 
• The most common forms of misconduct were harassment, sexual misconduct, and intolerance. 

Fama’s comprehensive analysis leverages advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to find misconduct across thousands of online public sources. This approach helps companies improve hiring outcomes as well as benchmark industry standards in maintaining workplace integrity.

With over a decade of experience, Fama has supported over 3,600 companies in screening more than 45 million candidates, solidifying its position as the foremost online screening company globally.

Click here to access the full “State of Misconduct at Work in 2023” report for detailed insights  and strategies to combat and prevent workplace misconduct, along with this quiz to assess your organization’s risk factors. 

Access the report here: https://fama.io/resource/the-state-of-misconduct-at-work-in-2023.

About the Study

The research methodologies employed in “The State of Misconduct at Work in 2023” report leverage Fama Technologies, Inc.’s cutting-edge AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze hundreds of thousands of data points across a wide array of online public sources, including social media platforms. This comprehensive approach allows for the identification, classification, and quantification of eight types of misconduct across nine key industries. By adhering to strict compliance with FCRA, EEOC, GDPR, and SOC 2 standards, Fama ensures the ethical and lawful processing of data, maintaining the highest levels of accuracy and reliability in its findings. This robust methodology not only captures a snapshot of current trends in workplace misconduct but also provides a benchmark for organizations to measure their own practices against industry standards, facilitating informed decision-making and strategy development to mitigate risks associated with workplace misconduct.

About Fama

Fama makes hiring great people easy. Our modern candidate screening solutions use online signals to identify candidate fit. We highlight professional attributes such as creativity, innovation, and problem solving while also surfacing costly misconduct such as violence, harassment, and fraud. 

We help organizations answer the big question: how might a candidate act around coworkers or customers when they join? 

Talent teams use Fama to improve candidate quality and employee retention, create safe and inclusive workplaces, and place the right leadership for their organizations. Fama is compliant with the FCRA, GDPR, and integrates into a wide range of HRIS, ATS and background screening solutions.

Founded in 2015, Fama is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. We’re backed by some of the world’s leading investors, and have raised more than $30M. Learn why over 3,600 companies trust Fama at www.fama.io.