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Hiring

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.

Scrap referrals in favor of ‘talent scouts’

03/13/2014
If you can’t name one great new hire in the past six months who came in via your employee referral program, it may be time to try a new approach. Instead of urging everyone to refer their friends, turn specific employees into “talent scouts” for your organization.

Can we ask applicants about their driving records?

03/11/2014
Q. Is it lawful to ask about a person’s driving record (accidents and violations) on the job application?

Employee committed firing offense? Terminate ASAP–or else prepare for court

03/06/2014
If you don’t terminate an employee for an obvious firing of­­fense but later use that reason to justify a discharge, you’d better have a good explanation for the delay. Otherwise, a jury may see the move as a pretext for some form of discrimination.

When criminal records are at issue, prepare to explain rationale for firing or not hiring

03/06/2014

Employees who lose a job often don’t believe the discharge reason their employer provides. They look for some apparent underlying illegal discrimination and sue. Smart employers are ready to explain the entire discharge process from beginning to end.

Rethink using social media to learn about job candidates

03/06/2014
Only a minority of surveyed employers admit to actually researching candidates online. Still, some do. Some research findings might help you decide whether social media should be a factor in your hiring.

Can we ask applicant for his social media log-in info and password?

02/28/2014
Q. I am thinking about hiring someone, but would first like to check his Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts to gain a more complete picture of the candidate. May I ask the applicant for log-in and password access to his accounts?