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HR Management

What are the pros and cons of doing Google searches on job applicants?

12/08/2009

Q. Currently, we don’t do any background investigations on job applicants. I’m considering instituting an informal background-screening program, whereby my HR director would conduct a Google search for every job applicant, in addition to looking at any Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace pages. I can’t imagine there’s any legal risk in researching information that is already publicly available on the Internet, right?

Is the U.S. workplace becoming more rude, raunchy?

12/08/2009

Boorish behavior and vulgar words are on the rise in U.S. workplaces. In fact, 38% of women say they’ve heard inappropriate sexual innuendoes and taunts in the workplace—up from 22% the year before. Such behavior can crush morale and increase turnover. Advice: Adopt a civility policy separate from your harassment policy.

Orlando shooter showed signs of depression before rampage

12/08/2009

In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 6 shootings at the offices of Reynolds, Smith & Hills in downtown Orlando—where one person was killed and five wounded—alleged gunman Jason Rodriguez had exhibited signs of deep depression, according to relatives.

OSHA cites Cincy painting firm for lead safety violations

12/08/2009

OSHA has levied $321,000 in fines against UCL Inc., a Cincinnati-based bridge and tower painting company. The fines stem from nine willful and two serious workplace safety violations related to lead exposure.

Medina company settles national-origin EEOC case

12/08/2009

Industrial fastener and tool manufacturer SFS Intec has agreed to settle an EEOC discrimination lawsuit arising at its Medina plant. Two Hispanic employees complained of being denied training opportunities that were open to non-Hispanics.

What should we do about gifts from vendors?

12/08/2009

Q. Sometimes our vendors provide modest gifts for our employees. How should we handle these?

A manager’s manager: Joe Torre’s rules for leading a team

12/08/2009

Baseball manager Joe Torre has led far more diverse and ego-driven teams than most managers ever will—including star-studded Dodgers and Yankees teams. Yet, his teams have won repeatedly, thanks to these four “rules of straight communication” that he has developed over the years. See if they might apply to your team.

Can worker ‘plead the Fifth’ in an HR investigation?

12/07/2009
Q. Two employees are refusing to participate in an internal workplace investigation. Can we discipline them for insubordination?

Wellness programs: Does your health-risk questionnaire violate the new genetic-bias law?

12/04/2009

It’s time to take a fresh look at the health questionnaires you hand out to employees as part of your wellness program. New federal regulations that prohibit discrimination against people with congenital medical conditions mean employers and health benefits providers must immediately review health risk assessments (HRAs) to make sure they don’t ask employees to reveal protected information.

Taming the paper tiger: What to keep—and for how long

12/03/2009

Some HR departments are notorious for keeping every stack of paper indefinitely, while others fail to keep enough. Neither approach is acceptable, and it’s up to you to maintain a happy medium that complies with the law. Proper record-keeping is one of an HR professional’s core duties. Knowing what legally must be kept and for how long are important aspects of that duty.