Hiring

Managing the multigenerational workforce

03/31/2014

The current workforce consists of four generations with unique strengths, values, expectations and, perhaps, limitations. Used poorly, generation-specific employment practices could create legal liabilities.

Manager allegedly ordered to hire only ‘All-American girls’

03/31/2014

The former manager of the Milk Shake Factory ice cream parlor in Pittsburgh has filed a complaint alleging she was fired for disobeying the company’s discriminatory hiring guidelines. When she was hired to manage the store, the company gave her complete autonomy to hire subordinates as long as they were the “All-American girl” type.

San Francisco’s Fair Chance law limits criminal background checks

03/27/2014

San Francisco has “banned-the-box” on employment applications and has added other restrictions on private employers’ ability to obtain and use criminal history information. The City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Fair Chance Ordinance in February, and the new law goes into effect Aug. 13.

Ensure arbitration agreement in application isn’t one-sided

03/27/2014

Employers that want to use arbitration to avoid protracted legal battles can include arbitration agreements in their applications and require applicants to sign as a hiring condition. That’s provided the agreement isn’t entirely one-sided.

Job candidates can apply to Marriott via phone app

03/26/2014

In January, the Marriott International hotel chain began accepting applications from job-seekers who apply via their cellphones and tablets. The hospitality giant says it is the first in the industry to offer mobile job applications to would-be employees.

New from the EEOC: Tips on background checks

03/25/2014

The EEOC has released a technical assistance document explaining how employers can legally conduct background checks for employment purposes. The Web-based “Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know” doesn’t introduce any new requirements, but does offer tips on complying with the law, as well as best practices employers should follow.

Electronic I-9s: Can you pre-populate employee data?

03/21/2014

Employers that use electronic systems to complete I-9 verification forms for new hires sometimes streamline the system by pre-populating employee information on Section I of the I-9 with information pulled from the company’s HR software. Is that permissible?

Skills gap leaves jobs unfilled, budgets hurting

03/19/2014

Sixty percent of employers are concerned about the costs associated with delays in filling open positions, with one in four stating they have experienced losses in revenue as a result, according to a new CareeBuilder.com survey.

What should we tell manager who wants to ask inappropriate interview questions?

03/17/2014

Q. We have a manager who is really concerned about “fit” when we interview for his group. He wants to ask questions about hobbies, whether the candidate has a family and how that will affect the candidate’s ability to be at work. I’ve tried to explain that, due to discrimination laws, we should only ask questions based upon the job and its requirements, but he ignores me. What can I do?

Online job ads languish, signaling slow recovery

03/14/2014

There were two unemployed Americans for every job opening listed online in January.