Archives

Do credit and criminal checks discriminate against minorities?

Over the past few years, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has aggressively challenged the use of credit reports and criminal history checks in hiring decisions, alleging that use of the information results in a discriminatory impact on candidates in protected groups. In 2012, the commission successfully negotiated a $3.13 million prelawsuit settlement of a […]

Why Accurate Documentation in Performance Evaluations Is Important

Documentation of performance evaluations can easily become evidence against an employer in a trial, such as a wrongful termination case or a discrimination case. This fact underlines the importance of ensuring that managers and supervisors understand the legal ramifications of what goes on the record. These personnel files and performance reviews could just as easily […]

Face It—Facebook Employees Eat Well

As you eat your PB&J out of a sandwich bag, you may want to log onto Facebook to view what the workers at Facebook are dining on in their café—and salivate! Yes, Mark and Sheryl have given their Culinary Team their own Facebook page where the day’s specials are posted—and, of course, the choices are […]

Can a Sense of Humor Win over a Hiring Manager? Survey Says, ‘Yes’

What makes you want to hire a job applicant? A new study looked beyond the typical attributes, like background, certifications, etc., and found that a sense of humor, an eye for fashion, or even knowledge of pop culture can influence a hiring manager’s decision. The nationwide CareerBuilder study asked employers if they had two equally […]

Hot SBTs from Summer 2013

As the fall season is creeping in, we thought it would be an appropriate time to take a moment to look back over the past few months. For those of you who might have missed them, here are the 10 most popular Strange But True! stories from this summer. You Are What You Wear—Not surprisingly, […]

20 Questions on SDSs

Ready for the new GHS-required safety data sheet (SDS)? Here’s a little game of 20 questions to test your knowledge of the new SDS. Use the quiz to check supervisors’ understanding of the new format as well. In this quiz, you’ll be asked to identify sections of the SDS where specific information can be found. […]

Most homecare workers entitled to minimum wage, overtime under new rule

A new rule taking effect January 1, 2015, means most direct-care workers employed by agencies and other third-party employers will be entitled to at least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) says the change will affect nearly two million direct-care workers, such as home health aides, personal care […]

When Can You ‘Clarify’ or ‘Authenticate’ an FMLA Cert?

Authentication and Clarification of Medical Certifications Employers are entitled to authenticate or clarify information received on a medical certification form. It is important to note that the definitions of what constitutes permissible authentication and clarification are very limited. “Authentication” means providing the healthcare provider with a copy of the medical certification and requesting verification that […]

Employer Q&A on Disabilities, Drugs and the ADA

Can an employer legally terminate an employee who is permanently disabled and can no longer perform the essential job functions? Do Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protections apply to all employees immediately, or must they be employed with the company for a certain amount of time first? What can employers ask when it comes to […]