• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Hiring

Review I-9 compliance through Uncle Sam’s eyes

04/01/2004
When an employee gives you a Social Security card or other document to complete the I-9 Form, how far must you go to prove that the document is genuine? …

Don’t make new hires wait long to be 401(k)-eligible

04/01/2004
Your competitors are shortening the length of time that new employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. More than half (51 percent) of companies now allow 401(k) participation within …

Don’t rely on ‘self-service’ background checks

04/01/2004
If job candidates approach you with a written report attesting to the validity of their résumés, don’t stop your background check there. Probe deeper with your own, independent check. New …

Don’t count on total immunity from references

04/01/2004

Q. I have a question about providing honest feedback during reference requests. Is it better to defend the fact that I provided a truthful (negative) assessment, rather than trying to explain why I can’t give any reference at all? Aren’t we protected by negligent referral and reference immunity laws? —M.R., Utah

Interview the hiring manager before the candidates

04/01/2004

Q. I constantly run into this problem: I pre-screen a candidate who seems like a perfect fit for the job description. But when I send the person to the hiring manager for an interview, I’m told to keep looking for someone better. This is frustrating to the managers, the applicants and me. Any suggestions on how I can improve my pre-screening? —P.B., New Jersey

Include fair geographical and time limits in noncompete pacts

04/01/2004
Noncompete agreements are easier signed than enforced. So your noncompete restrictions must give the person a “reasonable opportunity” to pursue a livelihood in his or her chosen field.
What’s considered …

Identify employees with substance-abuse problems

04/01/2004
Login Email Address Password I forgot my password To continue reading this page, become an HR Specialist Premium Plus member today! Your subscription includes: Ask the Attorney: Answers to your HR legal questions Compliance Guidance: Access to 7,000 HR news articles, updated daily, sorted by state State-by-State: Summaries of HR laws in all 50 states […]

Smoke out users who try to beat your drug tests

04/01/2004
Issue: Cheap new products make it easier to thwart workplace drug tests. Risks: You could inadvertently be adding more substance abusers to the payroll. Action: Thwart drug-test cheaters with …

Workers’ religious beliefs don’t trump your need for a bias-free workplace

03/01/2004
Employees are clearly entitled to their own religious beliefs. But your organization doesn’t need to bend the rules to allow those beliefs to interfere with the rights of other employees.
…

Review I-9 compliance through Homeland Security’s eyes

03/01/2004
When an employee gives you a Social Security card or other document to complete the I-9 Form, how far must you go to prove that the document is genuine? You can …