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Results of this test: Auto industry to pay $1.6 mil

03/01/2008

The courts look unfavorably on literacy tests for positions that don’t directly require writing skills, as seen by a recent U.S. District Court decision for the Southern District of Ohio. The court awarded $1.6 million to 700 black workers who were screened out of apprenticeship programs at Ford Motor Company, Visteon Corp. and Automotive Components Holdings …

No need to accommodate Rx marijuana use

03/01/2008
The California Supreme Court has ruled that an employer doesn’t have to accommodate an employee’s marijuana use even though he had a valid prescription. Employers can and should continue to use post-offer, pre-employment drug tests if having a work force free of impairment is an important safety consideration …

Know the rules for Georgia’s drug-Free workplace program

03/01/2008
Georgia employers participating in the state’s drug-free workplace (DFW) program must be careful to strictly follow the program’s guidelines or risk incurring workers’ compensation benefit liability they never intended …

Justice Department increases fines for employers that violate immigration, I-9 rules

02/26/2008
Employers that run afoul of federal immigration laws will face stiffer civil fines—up to $5,000 more per violation—starting March 27, the U.S. Justice Department announced last week.

How to Lure Passive Job Candidates

02/26/2008
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Misclassifying employees as contractors? IRS wants to know

02/01/2008

Consider yourself warned: The IRS has said it will crack down in 2008 on organizations that misclassify workers as independent contractors when they actually should be considered employees. It’s a tricky problem for HR pros, who don’t typically play a role in classifying independent contractors …

Can we withdraw a job offer if candidate wants to negotiate?

02/01/2008

Q. We recently extended an offer of employment. However, after accepting the position, the candidate tried to renegotiate his salary and vacation benefits. Can we withdraw our offer of employment? …

Earn tax credits for hiring workers from rural counties

02/01/2008

Employers that hire workers who live in Gogebic, Marquette and Ontonagon counties may receive federal tax credits of up to $2,400 per worker this year. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is aimed at promoting employment in counties designated Rural Renewal Counties based on population shifts …

Stay out of court by establishing clear job-Posting rules

02/01/2008

If, like many organizations, you try to promote from within, make certain you have a clear process that someone in HR oversees. Otherwise, managers and supervisors who have specific people in mind for promotion may “tip off” some employees while leaving others in the dark, opening the possibility of discrimination claims …

You can require ‘Cultural authenticity’ in some circumstances

02/01/2008

Some retail and service establishments strive to create an authentic experience for their customers. That may mean they seek out employees who can best create that experience. That “cultural authenticity” may be a bona fide occupational qualification, and rejecting applicants who don’t fit the mold may be legal. But don’t go overboard and eliminate everyone who doesn’t look or act authentic …