• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Hiring

Hire drivers? Start collecting more background info

06/01/2004
The U.S. Transportation Department has unveiled new rules that require employers to more closely review applicants’ professional driving safety records and drug-testing history. The rules also require you to make that …

Interviewing: Sharpen skills to stamp out hiring bias

06/01/2004
THE LAW. Job interviews are a legal minefield for HR people and managers. Your questions must avoid stepping on federal and state equal employment laws that ban discrimination on the basis …

Find retention answers from ‘Ones who got away’

06/01/2004

Hold informal “exit interviews” with applicants who turn down job offers from your organization. 

Parenthood: Walk the fine line between accommodation & bias

05/01/2004
Even if your state or local laws protect employees based
on their “marital status” or “family responsibilities,” that
doesn’t mean parent/employees can create their own schedule. You can still …

Independent contractors: Steer clear of IRS numbers game

05/01/2004
THE LAW. Many organizations don’t think twice about using independent contractors. They’re an attractive labor source because you don’t have to shell out payroll taxes or benefits for them, nor are …

Can you ban males from ‘female-focused’ jobs?

05/01/2004
Issue: Some employers want to create male-only or female-only positions, often for privacy reasons.
Risk: You risk a discrimination lawsuit if this policy doesn’t have a sound business reason …

Focus on productivity in orientations, not paperwork

05/01/2004
Issue: Welcome new employees with information and support. Benefits: Smoother transition for new hires, improved productivity and reduced turnover. Action: Use the following tips to bring new hires up …

Job openings: No duty to notify employees on leave

05/01/2004

Q. One of our employees is on leave after giving birth. She may qualify for a position that recently opened up. Do we have an obligation to notify her of that opening? —R.D., Ohio

Verifying education claims? Don’t just call the school

05/01/2004
Issue: Applicants are taking résumé fraud to a new high-tech level.
Risk: Hackers could alter an applicant’s school records, undermining your background check …

Revisit severance pay as a recruiting tool

05/01/2004
If your organization has offered little or no severance pay, now’s a good time to beef up that benefit.
Reason: Choppy economic conditions the past few years saw many employees …