Glossary
A plain-language definition from the Curriculo hiring glossary.
A bad hire is an employee who fails to meet performance expectations and either leaves or is terminated within the first year. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the direct cost at 30% of first-year salary, but the real number, once you account for lost productivity, team disruption, and replacement recruiting, ranges from $17,000 for entry-level roles to $240,000 or more for senior positions.