Archive for the 'Hiring' Category

Complying with ADA Regulations for Web Accessibility

December 15, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: HR Hero Line

Whether engaging in a specific project, such as working with IT to incorporate text-to-speech readers or other assistive technology in your online environment, or carrying out the seemingly simple task of adjusting your hiring and recruiting page, you must be up to date on Web access for disabled employees and applicants.
Are you aware of the [...]

Dangers of Excluding Unemployed When Searching for Workers

October 27, 2011 at 12:00 pm by: South Carolina Employment Law Letter

By Reggie Gay

Employers that need workers often find themselves inundated with applicants — especially in today’s down economy. Some employers have even resorted to limiting the applicant pool to currently employed individuals as a way of dealing with a deluge of resumes. But that can be a legally shaky strategy.

Former Employee Keeps Reapplying Despite Rejection Letters

July 14, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: South Carolina Employment Law Letter

by Reggie Gay
Q: We have a job applicant who worked for us approximately six years ago. There’s nothing negative in her file, but there were some issues with her job performance. Neither of her former supervisors wants to hire her back. She has applied several times and has received rejection letters, but she keeps reapplying. [...]

Practical Job Descriptions

April 21, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: Vermont Employment Law Letter

Should our company use job descriptions? How long should they be, and what information should they contain? Do they really serve a useful purpose?
We get those questions all the time, and the answer is always the same: Yes, employers should use lean, practical job descriptions that accurately reflect essential job duties because they serve an [...]

In Employment Law Cases, It’s Not Just about Smoking Gun Evidence

April 7, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: Rhode Island Employment Law Letter

The worst-case scenario for any claim involving an employment-related decision is the “smoking gun” piece of evidence that destroys the case. It could be a notation in an interviewer’s notes that the applicant was “old” or a supervisor’s note indicating that the recently terminated employee “complained about safety issues a lot.” Because you generally have [...]

Unemployed Job Applicants Pose Practical and Legal Dilemmas for HR

March 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: Wendi Watts

Employers have started hiring again and are often overwhelmed with huge numbers of resumes, even for entry-level positions. Some companies have decided that an effective way to identify the best candidates is to refuse to consider job applicants who are currently unemployed. But a number of human resources professionals, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), [...]

Employer Bears All Risk for Unpaid Interns

January 20, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: Rhode Island Employment Law Letter

An enthusiastic and energetic individual approaches you with a proposal to volunteer his time to gain valuable experience in your industry. “After all,” reasons the prospective volunteer, “how can I get my first job if I have no experience in the field of my choice?” Sounds like a win-win situation, doesn’t it?
Like many win-win situations [...]

How to Screen Job Applicants and Avoid Liability

January 6, 2011 at 9:00 pm by: Arkansas Employment Law Letter

Q: I own and operate a business in which physically demanding work is part of the employees’ daily activities. I recently hired several employees who I thought were qualified for the job. However, I quickly learned that they weren’t in good enough health to do what was required of them. This is causing a lot [...]

Making ‘Subjective’ Employment Criteria ‘Objective’

December 9, 2010 at 9:00 pm by: North Dakota Employment Law Letter

Most employers understand that they should discourage the use of subjective criteria to make hiring, advancement, and severance decisions. However, many supervisors still insist that they must consider subjective criteria because factors like “attitude,” “initiative,” and “reliability” simply can’t be made objective. True or false? Let’s break it down.
Every employee undoubtedly has certain tasks that [...]

Practical Steps for Addressing Theft in the Workplace

October 21, 2010 at 9:00 pm by: Idaho Employment Law Letter

by Robert A. Berry
Business is tough. It’s even harder in today’s climate — and that’s assuming all of your employees are working for the good of the business. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It may be a valued and trusted employee with many years of dedicated service, or it may be someone new or [...]