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Hiring

Quiz applicants on basic skills; don’t wait for national test

05/01/2005
Issue: Business and government leaders will unveil a new national job-readiness test next year that you can give entry-level applicants.
Benefit: Cut down on bad entry-level hires. Spot high-school grads …

Keep salary offers in check for new college grads

04/01/2005
Starting pay for new grads will remain modest this year, except in certain fields, such as tech and engineering, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts.
In a …

‘Sorry’: the hardest word to say to job applicants

04/01/2005
Issue: Whether , and how , to notify unsuccessful job applicants.
Risk: Spending too much effort on rejection notification can tax your resources, but poor notification can reflect badly on …

Run background checks, even for top-dog positions

04/01/2005
Buyer beware: If you don’t probe deeply into job candidates’ backgrounds, you’re in the minority these days.
In fact, 80 percent of employers polled in a new Society for Human …

Remind managers: Don’t elicit secrets in interviews

04/01/2005
You’re legally protected if job candidates voluntarily spill the beans about their employers’ secrets, such as customer lists and manufacturing methods. But warn hiring managers to avoid asking questions aimed at …

Warn managers not to hire on ‘gut instinct’ alone

04/01/2005
Issue: Establishing quantifiable criteria for making hiring decisions.
Risk: Applicants have an easier time winning hiring-bias lawsuits if they can point to weaknesses in your stated reasons for hiring.
…

Reach out to older applicants via new AARP program

04/01/2005
AARP, the nation’s largest organization for seniors, launched an online effort last month to help employers recruit older employees. Participating businesses will pay a fee, based on the number of employees, …

Personality tests don’t trammel constitutional rights, but beware risks

04/01/2005
Many employers use personality tests to identify job-related characteristics, such as maturity or emotional stability. But these tests can carry legal risk when applied incorrectly.
If you use personality tests, …

Can you limit employees’ time to file suit?

03/01/2005
An employee’s ability to sue your organization expires at different times under various employment laws. For example, in most states, employees can file sexual harassment lawsuits within 300 days of the …

Make privacy a cornerstone of your culture

03/01/2005
Confidentiality can quickly become a legal issue in many workplace decisions and activities.