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Hiring

Set clear job requirements to stop bias claims

09/19/2008

Employees who claim they were wrongly denied a promotion for some discriminatory reason (for example, based on race, age or some other protected characteristic) have the initial burden of proving they were qualified for the position they sought. The best protection employers have against such claims: clear, concise and accurate minimum job requirements …

Best Buy settles age bias suit claiming it favors younger workers

09/19/2008

Best Buy recently agreed to settle an age discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC that accused the company of failing to hire a 68-year-old applicant because of his age. Under the terms of the agreement, Best Buy will pay $17,500 to Reinhold Schouweiler on whose behalf the EEOC filed suit in 2007 …

Video résumés failing to catch on: Ahead of their time, or too hot to handle?

09/18/2008

Despite much discussion about their pros, cons and legal implications, video résumés aren’t yet catching fire with employers or employees. CareerBuilder recently discontinued its video résumé service. Recruiters have shown little demand for them …

‘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 …