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Hiring

‘That head scarf thing’: Insensitive comments spark legal fire

09/18/2008

You’ve hired people of all races and religions, including a woman who wears a head scarf (hijab). But what do you say when that woman seeks a promotion to a more visible position? A few unwise words coupled with foot-dragging on the promotion and you’ll be wrapping your head around a religious discrimination lawsuit …

Circulating résumés around the office

09/18/2008

Q. One of our managers who hires for his division has started passing around the résumés of possible candidates to other managers. He wants to get their opinions on the candidates. Does passing along résumés to these people violate any privacy laws?

The HR I.Q. Test: October ’08

09/18/2008

Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

GPDSC: Budget has already been cut to the bone

09/15/2008
In response to an order from Gov. Sonny Perdue to trim their budgets by 6%, state agencies have cut services, restricted travel expenses, implemented hiring freezes, put off purchases and introduced mandatory unpaid furloughs. But the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council voted in August to reject the governor’s order out of hand …

Restaurant makes good after religious discrimination slip-up

09/09/2008
Maryam Abdi, a 16-year-old who was denied a job at an Old Country Buffet restaurant because of her Islamic headscarf, has been hired for the position she sought. Abdi applied for a part-time cashier position at the company’s Fridley restaurant in July. The manager who interviewed her reportedly asked whether she would be willing to remove her headscarf to comply with the restaurant’s uniform policy …

Use transparent promotion process to prevent lawsuits

09/08/2008
When it comes to promotions, the clearer and more transparent the selection process, the better. Employees who know exactly what it takes to be promoted—and who know how to put their hats in the ring—are less likely to suspect some form of discrimination when they aren’t selected. It’s especially important to avoid a process that’s too informal …

Stable job history is a legitimate hiring criterion

09/05/2008

It’s OK to favor applicants who’ve proven they can stick with a job for a while. That’s not discrimination, as a recent court ruling shows. The key: Allow employees to explain job gaps …

Can an interviewer ask about drug use?

09/05/2008
Q. I recently asked an applicant whether she used illegal drugs. She told me she understood that employers were not allowed to ask such questions. Is this legal? …

Appeal to older workers with these 4 health plan ‘Extras’

09/05/2008

Health care coverage becomes increasingly important to employees as they get older. If you’re courting mature, experienced workers to join your team—or if you want to retain the ones you have—you might need to tweak your health benefits so they appeal more to over-50 employees. Here are four health-related perks that could help you seal the deal …

Flex Fridays allow employees time to unwind after traveling

09/05/2008

After a business trip, employees of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Humantech get the following Friday off, just to unwind. The workplace ergonomics consulting firm’s business travelers earn the extra day off when they make extended trips or work odd hours while on the road …