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Beware! Now it’s even easier for disabled employees to sue

08/04/2008
A new federal appeals court case has made it easier for employees in the 5th Circuit to sue for disability discrimination. To prove disability discrimination, employees need to show only that the disability was a “motivating factor” in an employment decision, not the sole cause …

CNBC ranks Texas nation’s top state for business

08/04/2008
A recent study conducted by CNBC concluded that Texas is “America’s Top State For Business.” The cable TV news study scored each state on 40 measures of competitiveness covering 10 categories … Texas’ highest rankings were in economy, technology and innovation, transportation and cost of living.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act finally becomes law

08/04/2008
President Bush recently signed into law H.R. 493, also known as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits employers from using genetic tests or information to discriminate against applicants and employees …

Federal jobs appeal to young workers

08/01/2008
Mass retirements of baby boomers and an increased need for security professionals have Uncle Sam on a hiring spree—and looking at your young employees …

Tell managers: You must let disabled applicants prove merit

08/01/2008
Disability rights groups sometimes target specific employers to see whether they harbor latent disability discrimination tendencies. An advocate will call a prospective employer and inquire about an open position. The prospective employer can’t say no to an interview without risking a disability lawsuit. But agreeing to the interview is only the beginning …

Beware too much emphasis on candidate’s demeanor

08/01/2008
The more subjective factors you use to set one applicant apart from another, the more likely a court will challenge your decision-making. That’s because some judges and juries may see subjective judgments such as “aggressive” or “confrontational” as code for some form of discrimination …

Measure effectiveness to make sure flex plans work for you

08/01/2008
Your organization wouldn’t offer flexible work arrangements like flextime and compressed workweeks if managers didn’t believe the benefits—better employee engagement, recruitment and retention—outweighed the costs. Still, a recent survey by Hewitt Associates found that few organizations have formal and consistent policies in place to manage their flex programs …

EMC grooms leaders in-house as part of development strategy

08/01/2008
Technology company EMC saves money on recruiting by sending its high-potential employees to school—at an in-house university. More than half of the Hopkinton, Mass., organization’s corporate-level director positions are filled from within …

Be prepared: 20 ‘silver bullet ‘ interview questions you should know how to answer

07/30/2008

Interviewers often have pet questions they use to test an applicant’s quality. Sometimes, they’re straightforward. ("Tell me about yourself.") Sometimes, they’re deep. ("If you were an animal, what kind would you be?") Sometimes, they’re just plain weird. ("How do they make M&M’s?") Be prepared to answer whatever might come your way …

Employees, IRS challenge FedEx’s driver classifications

07/28/2008
Present and former FedEx Ground/Home Delivery drivers are eligible to join a class-action suit that challenges the company’s long-standing practice of classifying drivers as independent contractors. The suit—which more than 27,000 drivers could join—argues that they are employees …