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Hiring

Watch out for pitfalls, risks of using social media in hiring

12/01/2010
Employers are increasingly using web-based social media—such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter—to screen potential employees, in addition to the usual applications, interviews, references, and background, credit and drug tests. But they don’t always recognize the potential pitfalls and risks.

Justice Department tells Hoover to clean up its I-9 process

12/01/2010
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that it has reached a settlement with the Hoover Company—which manufactures vacuum cleaners in El Paso—resolving allegations that its employment eligibility verification process discriminates against legal, permanent residents of the United States.

Candidate extra-qualified? Make a note of it

12/01/2010
Sometimes, a candidate stands out as a great potential hire. Whatever it is that signals this is a good hire, make sure you note it in your interview documentation. Otherwise, it may be hard to justify the decision if another applicant who met the basic job requirements sues and alleges some form of discrimination.

How patient should you be with new hires?

12/01/2010
You have to give new employees some time to get up to speed, especially with external hires. But how patient should you be?

Court orders medical record release in EEOC case

11/30/2010

Here’s a case that might make some employees think twice about going to the EEOC with a failure-to-hire complaint. A court has ruled that employers being sued by the EEOC have the right to review job applicants’ medical records—including mental health notes.

Philly nonprofit wins grant to fight immigration bias

11/24/2010
The Lutheran Children and Family Service of Eastern Pennsylvania is one of 13 recipients of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grant funds meant to aid victims of immigration discrimination. The grant was issued by the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices.

Harrah’s passes on diversity study, citing past litigation

11/24/2010
When the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board conducted a study this summer of employee diversity in the state’s casinos, Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack refused to participate. The reason: Past lawsuit settlements forbade the company from discussing minority hiring and employment figures.

Bill would bar credit checks for most jobs in New Jersey

11/24/2010
State Sen. Shirley Turner has proposed a bill that would prevent employers from using credit checks during the hiring process in many cases. Citing the downturn in the economy, Turner and other bill supporters note that many people have less than perfect credit, and that shouldn’t keep them from getting jobs.

N.J. may add another protected category: the unemployed

11/24/2010

It may soon be illegal for New Jersey employers to discriminate against applicants because they are unemployed. The State Assembly in October passed legislation prohibiting employers and recruiters from placing anything in job ads that would discourage unemployed persons from applying.

2 Vikings know what their post-season won’t include

11/22/2010
Barring an unlikely change of fortune, the Minnesota Vikings aren’t going to Dallas for the Super Bowl this year. Two Vikings players—defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams—also know they’re not going to Washington after the regular season ends.