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Hiring

Firm skids on ICE, eventually collides with EEOC

02/09/2010

Things started out rocky last November for American Building Maintenance (ABM), a nationwide janitorial services conglomerate, when ICE agents busted it for employing 1,200 undocumented workers. Bad turned to worse in January when the EEOC filed a complaint against ABM, alleging race discrimination against black workers hired last fall through a nonprofit Minneapolis employment agency called Emerge.

Develop fail-safe application tracking system

02/09/2010

Do you have an employee who consistently applies for open positions for which she falls short on qualifications? You may be tempted to “lose” or “misplace” her applications. Be bigger than that. Instead, exercise patience and handle her applications just as you would for any other applicant.

What are the basics of complying with the new Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act?

02/09/2010

Q. I read the article last month (“Follow 5 steps to make sure GINA doesn’t trip you up”) regarding the recent passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. What should we do to make sure that we are not violating this law?

New site gives ammo to applicants left hanging

02/08/2010

If your organization doesn’t respond to interviewed-but-rejected applicants, a new web site gives those candidates a way to show their displeasure—anonymously.

In all promotion notices, include specifics about minimum job requirements

02/02/2010

It’s fairly common for promotion opportunities to attract lots of candidates—especially when the promotion offers a pay raise and the chance for additional job security. Don’t let that competition end in litigation. The best way to stay out of court: Be very specific about the minimum requirements candidates must meet to qualify for promotion.

Use objective criteria, transparent process to ensure promotions are fair for everyone

02/01/2010

If your promotion processes are haphazard—devoid of objective criteria and without a clear system for choosing candidates—you could wind up facing a disparate-impact discrimination lawsuit. That’s one powerful reason to institute a clear promotion policy that includes posting job openings, creating application processes and relying primarily on objective selection criteria.

The hidden risks of hiring based on ‘chemistry’

02/01/2010

While subjective factors such as chemistry can play an important role in hiring, studies show that differences in race, gender and culture may subconsciously influence these feelings—and set you up for a discrimination complaint. Courts have flatly stated that the more subjective factors you use in hiring, the more likely a court will challenge your decision-making.

Tell managers: No talk of hiring preferences

01/22/2010

As hard as it is to believe, some managers still think they can use sex or race as the reason to hire one qualified applicant instead of other qualified candidates. Of course, that’s wrong, and it could trigger a discrimination lawsuit if word gets out. That’s why you should remind everyone involved in the hiring process that his or her decision must be blind to personal characteristics.

Vanguard settles Charlotte race bias case for $300,000

01/22/2010

The financial services firm Vanguard Group has settled a racial discrimination complaint with the EEOC for $300,000. The case involved Barbara Alexander, a black applicant for a financial planning manager position at Vanguard’s Charlotte office.

10 ways to welcome vets into your workforce

01/19/2010

More than 400,000 U.S. citizens retire or separate from the military every year—and most of them look for jobs when they do. Companies such as Union Pacific Railroad, GE and Home Depot actively recruit veterans. Your organization could probably benefit from hiring military veterans. To attract them, align your recruiting and employee benefits with their needs.