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Hiring

Did my innocent employment ad really open me up to charges of discrimination?

04/21/2015
Q. I recently posted want ads to hire new employees. Recently, I received a letter from someone who wants to sue me for “deterring applicants.” The ads that I sent out simply stated my company’s name and address, the position available and that applicants who are younger and live nearby are preferred. What did I do wrong?

Blast from the past: Feds revive civil service exam

04/15/2015
Would-be government workers are again taking part in a ritual that had virtually disappeared for 43 years: taking a civil service exam to qualify for jobs with federal agencies.

Review job ads for hints of age discrimination

04/14/2015
The EEOC is cranking up the scrutiny of employers that use job ads to seek—sometimes not so subtly—younger employees.

Are we liable for negligent hiring if employee had criminal conviction?

04/13/2015
Q. Recently, one of my employees accidentally injured a client while operating a forklift during work hours. The client is now threatening to sue me for negligent hiring of this employee, because the employee has a prior—and unrelated—conviction. Does this accusation have legal grounds?

Put that phone interview on speaker–and be sure to have a witness!

04/13/2015

When it comes to hiring, it may seem simpler to screen potential applicants via a phone interview. But such conversations lend themselves to misunderstandings. If you must conduct them, do so via speaker and with more than one person participating. That way, the applicant can’t make wild claims when she isn’t hired.

Internal thefts: OK to redo background checks?

04/13/2015

As this case shows, running new background checks on your current staff is not, by itself, a discriminatory act. Just make sure you set clear standards on how you will react to the results.

16.9% of Fortune 500 board members are women

04/08/2015
The percentage of board seats occupied by women has increased substantially in the last 20 years—all the way up to 16.9%. Women comprise 47% of the U.S. workforce.

Block hiring lawsuits with simple FAQ handout

04/06/2015

Do you explain up front to job applicants exactly how your hiring process will work? If not, consider providing a written notice that outlines the process—possibly in a simple frequently-asked-questions format. The FAQ will come in handy later if a disgruntled applicant sues, claiming she was blacklisted or suffered discrimination by not being hired or called for an interview.

Health roles dominate growing occupations

04/03/2015
The Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly projects the growth rate for occupations in coming years. These are the 10 jobs with the fastest anticipated growth rates between now and 2022.

Worker’s immigration status won’t let employer off hook

03/30/2015
A California appeals court has ordered a new trial for a worker who may have lost a lawsuit because the jury learned that he was an illegal immigrant.