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Hiring

Preserve at-will rights by ditching your employee probation period

06/01/2004
If your employee handbook or job-offer letters say new hires will face a 60- or 90-day probation period, you should consider dropping that policy or, at the very least, referring to …

States aren’t immune from ADA lawsuits, high court says

06/01/2004
The Supreme Court ruled May 17 that disabled people can sue state governments for failing to provide them access to courthouses, voting booths or other public services.
Previously, states had …

Hiring drivers? Collect more background information

06/01/2004
Organizations that hire commercial drivers must now collect, and provide to other employers, more details from their driver applicants.
Reason: The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) …

Hire drivers? Start collecting more background info

06/01/2004
The U.S. Transportation Department has unveiled new rules that require employers to more closely review applicants’ professional driving safety records and drug-testing history. The rules also require you to make that …

Interviewing: Sharpen skills to stamp out hiring bias

06/01/2004
THE LAW. Job interviews are a legal minefield for HR people and managers. Your questions must avoid stepping on federal and state equal employment laws that ban discrimination on the basis …

Find retention answers from ‘Ones who got away’

06/01/2004

Hold informal “exit interviews” with applicants who turn down job offers from your organization. 

Parenthood: Walk the fine line between accommodation & bias

05/01/2004
Even if your state or local laws protect employees based
on their “marital status” or “family responsibilities,” that
doesn’t mean parent/employees can create their own schedule. You can still …

Independent contractors: Steer clear of IRS numbers game

05/01/2004
THE LAW. Many organizations don’t think twice about using independent contractors. They’re an attractive labor source because you don’t have to shell out payroll taxes or benefits for them, nor are …

Can you ban males from ‘female-focused’ jobs?

05/01/2004
Issue: Some employers want to create male-only or female-only positions, often for privacy reasons.
Risk: You risk a discrimination lawsuit if this policy doesn’t have a sound business reason …

Focus on productivity in orientations, not paperwork

05/01/2004
Issue: Welcome new employees with information and support. Benefits: Smoother transition for new hires, improved productivity and reduced turnover. Action: Use the following tips to bring new hires up …