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Hiring

Misclassifying employees as contractors? IRS wants to know

02/01/2008

Consider yourself warned: The IRS has said it will crack down in 2008 on organizations that misclassify workers as independent contractors when they actually should be considered employees. It’s a tricky problem for HR pros, who don’t typically play a role in classifying independent contractors …

Can we withdraw a job offer if candidate wants to negotiate?

02/01/2008

Q. We recently extended an offer of employment. However, after accepting the position, the candidate tried to renegotiate his salary and vacation benefits. Can we withdraw our offer of employment? …

Earn tax credits for hiring workers from rural counties

02/01/2008

Employers that hire workers who live in Gogebic, Marquette and Ontonagon counties may receive federal tax credits of up to $2,400 per worker this year. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is aimed at promoting employment in counties designated Rural Renewal Counties based on population shifts …

Stay out of court by establishing clear job-Posting rules

02/01/2008

If, like many organizations, you try to promote from within, make certain you have a clear process that someone in HR oversees. Otherwise, managers and supervisors who have specific people in mind for promotion may “tip off” some employees while leaving others in the dark, opening the possibility of discrimination claims …

You can require ‘Cultural authenticity’ in some circumstances

02/01/2008

Some retail and service establishments strive to create an authentic experience for their customers. That may mean they seek out employees who can best create that experience. That “cultural authenticity” may be a bona fide occupational qualification, and rejecting applicants who don’t fit the mold may be legal. But don’t go overboard and eliminate everyone who doesn’t look or act authentic …

Florida among best states for entrepreneurs

02/01/2008

Florida is second in the nation in encouraging start-up businesses, a study by the Fraser Institute has found …

Miami Herald outsources advertising production to India

02/01/2008

The Miami Herald, published by California-based McClatchy Co., has outsourced some production work in its special advertising sections to India …

No California recession on way, says UCLA Anderson Forecast

02/01/2008

The most recent UCLA Anderson Forecast lowered its California job-growth estimates from the already weak numbers that it forecast last year, but included a silver lining in an otherwise cloudy report by predicting that the state would avoid recession …

Objective, unwavering criteria is key to litigation-Proof promotions

02/01/2008

A lawsuit is the last thing you want after making a promotion decision. The best way to stay out of court is to insist on objective promotion criteria …

Managers: Never presume ‘What’s best’ for employees

02/01/2008

Few things spur a discrimination suit as fast as a manager’s misplaced paternalistic comment. Remind supervisors that employees should choose for themselves what promotion or training opportunities they want to pursue. Presumptions about what they might prefer or would be comfortable doing don’t belong in the workplace …