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Was state staffer ordered to check out ‘Joe the Plumber’?

12/08/2008

Vanessa Niekamp, senior child support manager at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said she feared for her job when she approached the inspector general about background checks performed on Joe Wurzelbacher, better known as “Joe the Plumber” …

‘Dream survey’ clues Las Vegas firm to employee hopes, needs

12/08/2008

Station Casino executives want to know what their employees dream about. A 20-question “dream survey” asks workers at the Las Vegas-based organization questions like, “Do you dream of owning your own house?” and “Do you dream of owning your own computer?” Here’s what their answers led the organization to do.

Help managers understand the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

12/05/2008

At first glance, the federal ADEA appears rather straightforward: It protects people age 40 and older from employment discrimination based on their age. But the law can affect just about anything managers do, from asking questions in job interviews to assigning job duties …

Posting openings, tracking all applications discourage frivolous discrimination lawsuits

12/04/2008

Employers that post job openings and then track the response they get to their advertisements will discourage frivolous lawsuits. Would-be applicants can’t say they tried to apply or were discouraged from doing so because of discrimination if the company can show how it routinely handles all job openings and applications.

Could we get in trouble? Brief posting led to job for applicant with inside info

12/04/2008

Q. My company posted an internal job position for 24 hours and only one person applied. She got the job. This person knew about the position and the posting because she works in HR. Is this legal to do in the state of Texas?

What is ‘blacklisting’?

12/04/2008

Q. What can or can’t we say about a lousy former employee?

Your guide to medical confidentiality under the ADA and the FMLA

12/04/2008

Both the ADA and the FMLA have strict requirements for how employers must handle employees’ confidential medical information. HR professionals need to know these rules to comply with both acts—and to avoid expensive legal liability for failing to do so.

What testing can we do if we suspect employee drug abuse?

12/04/2008

Q. Our company has random drug testing. Can we send an employee to be tested for suspicion of drug use?

Job-hopping hits the brakes as the economy crashes

12/03/2008

Skittish of the economic uncertainty, an increasing number of professionals are saying “no thanks” to prospective employers trying to lure them to new jobs. Just 13% of middle managers say they’re actively looking for a new job.

Résumé lies are on the rise; 7 tips to separate facts from fudging

12/02/2008
With the sending of résumés as easy as a click of a button, job seekers today are pulling out all the stops to make themselves stand out. Sometimes that includes embellishing their résumés.