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Not just for online dating: New hires are 'ghosting' their prospective employers

Posted at 8:31 PM, Jul 30, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-31 06:44:03-04

"Ghosting" — The term is usually reserved in online dating when a prospective date doesn't call or text back. Now, it's being used on prospective employers when new hires don't show up for their first day of work.

Liz Blondy has roughly 80 employees covering her various K-9 to 5 pet care locations and says she's fallen victim to a trend of ghosting. 

"It's strange because it’s like where did they go?" Blondy said.

Experts say part of the reason for the sudden disappearing act is actually good news: a stronger economy. 

"There’s more jobs for people so they have more options, they have more choices," Blondy said. 

However, the toll the trend takes on those who get ghosted is more than just the equivalent of an emotional rollercoaster. 

"A lot of these candidates we get really excited about, so to have them not show up can be disappointing and also expensive," Blondy said. "We start with the group interview, we have them come back to do a work assessment. the HR person spends time creating a schedule, the onboarding…we’ve already spent a couple of hundred dollars before they even walk in the door their first day."