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Rejection letters under scrutiny: 7 do’s & don’ts

02/26/2009
Mounting layoffs are creating a glut of qualified and aggressive job hunters who are desperate for work. As their frustration grows, more applicants are reading deeper into their rejection letters—sometimes spotting job promises or hints of discrimination that you never intended.

No job opening? Employee can’t claim bias

02/26/2009

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers North Carolina employers, has issued a no-nonsense opinion full of common sense: Employees can’t bring an employment discrimination lawsuit because they didn’t get a job that doesn’t exist or for which applicants aren’t being sought.

Use promotion committee—minus offending boss—to correct possible past discrimination

02/26/2009

It can happen at the best of companies: You discover that a careless supervisor or manager made some comments that might be interpreted as prejudiced. When that happens, you know to discipline that employee. But what do you do when the employee who was the target of the comments is up for promotion?

N.C. appeals court ruling: Noncompete clause goes too far

02/26/2009
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Moody’s predicts N.C. job loss in 2009, recovery in 2010

02/26/2009

Economists at Moody’s predict North Carolina jobs will fall by 1.6% in 2009. The steepest declines are anticipated in construction (down 9.3%), manufacturing (– 4.3%) and financial activities (– 2.9%). There will be a few bright spots in the state’s job market, though.

Can I convert part-timers to contractors?

02/26/2009

Q. Payroll taxes are hurting our bottom line. May I convert part-time bookkeepers to "1099" employees?

2 N.C. companies make Fortune ‘best to work for’ list

02/26/2009

Two companies headquartered in North Carolina have made Fortune magazine’s 2009 “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. The two, both headquartered in Cary, are engineering firm Kimley-Horn & Associates and software giant SAS.

Pharmacies may ask about past drug convictions, despite California law

02/24/2009

The California Labor Code prohibits potential employers from asking about marijuana possession convictions more than two years old. But sometimes, federal law overrides state law—and that’s the case for employers that are hiring potential employees to work in pharmacies.

OC Register settles independent contractor suit for $22 million

02/24/2009

The Orange County Register recently agreed to pay $22 million to settle a class action brought by its paper carriers, who claimed the newspaper misclassified them as independent contractors rather than employees. The settlement will bring to an end a two-month trial against the newspaper.

Can telling applicant he’s ‘overqualified’ trigger a lawsuit?

02/24/2009

If you’re like lots of employers, you’ve probably been inundated with résumés from desperate people applying for anything that resembles a job. Many of them have far more experience and education than you need. They’re "overqualified." Do you dare tell them so?