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Hiring

Don’t probe applicants about their HIV status

11/01/2004

Q. Is it legal to ask applicants medical questions, specifically, if they have HIV? Does the law allow any legal exceptions to ask this question of people applying for food-handling positions?” —S.S., California

Will election result affect hiring? It depends on your industry

10/01/2004
While the presidential election outcome won’t likely change your competitors’ hiring plans, it could produce a small economic boost in certain industries, according to a new poll by outplacement consulting firm …

Set tight time limits for keeping job applications

10/01/2004

Q. Our employment application states, “This application will remain active for six months.” Is this time frame advisable? How long should applications remain active? And how long should I keep completed applications? —K.S., Minnesota

Warn managers: Never disclose ex-employees’ medical data

10/01/2004
Issue: Former employees can sue if your managers blab about employees’ medical conditions to prospective employers. Risk: Ex-employees can file Americans …

Starting to hire again? Heed new-hire reporting rules

10/01/2004
Issue: Federal and state laws require you to file certain data about new employees. Risk: Many employers overlook those requirements, risking per-employee …

Will the presidential election result affect hiring?

10/01/2004
Expect the presidential election outcome to produce a small economic boost in certain industries, according to a new survey by outplacement consulting firm …

Learn from the big dog’s mistake; check applicants’ crime records

10/01/2004
America’s largest employer, Wal-Mart, recently announced that it will begin running criminal background checks on job candidates.
The decision comes on the heels of two incidents in which employees with …

How must you accommodate people with epilepsy?

10/01/2004
About 2.3 million Americans have some form of epilepsy, which causes occasional seizures.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission just published a new fact sheet that explains whether epilepsy is considered …

Inquire about confidentiality agreements

10/01/2004

Q. If a job applicant doesn’t mention that he or she is subject to a confidentiality agreement, should we ask? —L.M., Maryland

Common small-company confusion: believing FMLA applies to them

10/01/2004
Small employers may be hurting their productivity by offering more generous family-and-medical leave benefits than legally required.
That’s the message of a new National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) study, …