Hiring

Schwarzenegger vetoes applicant credit report ban

10/15/2010

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed A.B. 482, a bill that would have prevented employers from using consumer credit reports when performing background checks on employees and applicants.

Make sure you retain all applicant information

10/15/2010

You may never see it coming: A disappointed applicant sues you after you give the job to someone else. However, you can be prepared—if you have held onto all documents and materials related to the hiring process. If you wind up in court and need to show why you didn’t select an applicant, those records may provide the rationale.

What are the new federal I-9 rules?

10/12/2010

Q. How does the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s new rule change an employer’s Form I-9 responsibilities?

Gender bias in Joslin could end company’s federal contracts

10/12/2010

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has charged Tyson Fresh Meats with gender discrimination at its facility in Joslin. A DOL investigation revealed that Tyson’s selection system and procedures discriminated against women seeking entry-level positions at the plant.

Don’t feel obligated to promote from within if better outside candidates are available

10/08/2010

It makes sense for employers to promote from within. But sometimes it’s better to choose a candidate from a broader pool of potential employees. That may mean some current employees will be disappointed—and may even sue. Recently, a federal court affirmed that internal candidates don’t have an automatic leg up and aren’t entitled to preferential promotions.

Bloomberg, court lock horns over firefighter hiring

10/07/2010

A Brooklyn court has extended an injunction preventing New York City from hiring new firefighters because existing hiring tests discriminate against minorities. The court proposed five alternative hiring plans that would bypass continued use of tests, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg claims all five require the city to use illegal quotas.

Supremes start work: 3 employment law cases on High Court docket this year

10/05/2010

The Supreme Court term that began yesterday will decide three important employment law cases. Here’s our round-up of upcoming High Court arguments that could affect background checks, discipline and firings and the tricky issue of determining the employment eligibility of foreign-born workers.

Watch out! These people are looking for work!

10/04/2010

Desperate times mean job-seekers are resorting to desperate measures to make their résumés stand out in a crowd. CareerBuilder.com recently asked HR pros to share recent résumé goofs they’ve encountered. As you sift through that growing stack of résumés, watch out for these applicants:

Open internships to older, experienced applicants

09/29/2010

As you hire employees to replace the ones who leave your organization as the economy improves, you might find that experienced, mature workers are willing to work as interns to get their feet in the door. Nearly a quarter of employers said workers with 10-plus years of experience who are age 50 or older are applying for internships, according to a CareerBuilder poll.

Form I-9: What should I do if employee’s documentation has discrepancies?

09/28/2010

What’s an employer to do when the documents an employee presents to prove work eligibility don’t match up? Employment law attorney Nancy Delogu guides you through the process of determining where employer responsibilities stop and employee responsibilities start. Subscribers to the HR Specialist Premium Plus service can tap Delogu’s expertise weekly, through the web site’s members-only “Ask the Attorney” service.