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Hiring

New scrutiny may change the way employers access social media

06/08/2012
Before you plunge into cyberspace in search of information on applicants (or current employees), understand the legal implications. Employers’ efforts to access employees’ and applicants’ private social media websites have re­­cently been subject to increased scrutiny by New York and federal legislators.

Court: No free lawyer unless case has real merit

06/08/2012
There is no constitutional right to a free attorney in employment dis­­crimination cases. Unless a so-called pro se litigant can show the court that his claim clearly has merit, he’ll have to serve as his own lawyer.

Feds consider revisions to I-9 verification form

06/07/2012
That infamous I-9 employment verification form you must complete for each new employee may be going through some changes soon. The USCIS recently published a draft of revisions to the I-9 form and requested public comment on the proposed changes.

EEOC’s new guidance on criminal background checks

05/30/2012
Earlier this year, the EEOC issued up­­dated guidance on how employers should use arrest and con­­viction records when making hiring decisions. If you use criminal background checks to screen applicants and employees, this affects you! Fact: Checks that were once routine are now under the gun.

30 great interview questions to identify candidates’ soft skills

05/30/2012
One of the best ways to tell if applicants have the skills to perform specific tasks is to directly ask how they’ve used those skills in the past. These sample questions can help hiring managers spot 10 important “soft” skills:

Be prepared to explain why hiring criteria favor experience more than education

05/30/2012
Some jobs demand relevant, real-world work experience. If a failed applicant sues, claiming a college degree should have trumped on-the-job experience, you’ll probably win—if you can justify your experience requirements.

Hiring managers aren’t doctors! Don’t let them turn away disabled applicants

05/30/2012
Remind managers who take job applications that they can’t automatically turn away applicants with disabilities. That can cause a lawsuit that could result in huge punitive damages.

Do attractive people earn a leg up in hiring?

05/30/2012
A study by economists in Buenos Aires found that when a photo accompanies a job application (as is common in Argentina), attractive applicants of both genders get called in for interviews more often.

Employ veterans? Download free new hiring toolkit

05/28/2012
A free report from the Society for Human Resource Management details the steps employers should take to effectively source, recruit and retain military veterans in civilian workplaces.

Hiring preferences OK, not evidence of discrimination

05/24/2012
Not every hiring preference is evidence of discrimination. You can limit the number of applicants by setting parameters—such as considering current employees first.