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New Employment Laws and Regulations Going into Effect

While the world has been focused on the U.S. and global economic meltdown, a historic presidential election, and staggering unemployment numbers, some pretty significant changes have been made in federal employment laws and regulations with most going into effect in just a few weeks. A recent issue of HR Hero Line includes a roundup of […]

New DOT Rule Reduces Driving Time for Truckers

A new U.S. Department of Transportation rule reduces the number of hours a truck driver can work within a week. The new final rule, announced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration a few days before Christmas, reflects new research in driver fatigue to make sure truck drivers can get the rest they need to […]

Handbooks Help Is Here!

Yesterday, we discussed two of the big employee handbooks mistakes employers tend to make, according to attorney Elaina Smiley. Today, a look at the final mistake she sees too often, and an introduction to a valuable handbook drafting tool — specifically for California employers.

Surviving the Misclassification Crackdown

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorneys Deanna Brinkerhoff and Dora Lane helped us understand DOL’s misclassification crackdown; today, what to do about it, plus some good news—your job descriptions are ADA-compliant and up to date. Classification of workers as employees or independent contractors is a murky area, but there are some safe harbors and some steps every […]

Q&A on pay surveys and pay raises

For employers looking to utilize pay surveys to get market benchmarks, where should they look? Who is the best source for pay surveys? What about employers who already have benchmarks but want instead to implement raises on a limited budget—how should they determine how much of a raise to give for everyone versus how much to only top performers?

‘Want to Take a Ride in My New Car?’

We recently covered weird interview questions on the part of the hiring manager. This week we look at some odd questions asked on the other side of the desk. Here are a few responses from a recent OfficeTeam survey that collected weird inquiries from the interviewee. Here are a few: “Do I have to be […]

Potential Pitfall in Social Media Screening of Potential Hires

The Internet Age and, more specifically, the social media age have added a new element to the hiring process. Rather than relying predominantly on what employees say about themselves on their résumés and cover letters, or what their handpicked cheerleaders say about them in letters of recommendation, employers can easily type a candidate’s name into […]

Proposed GINA rule clears up issue on wellness programs

A new proposed rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settles the question of whether employers are justified in seeking medical information on covered spouses participating in wellness programs. The proposed rule, published in the October 30 Federal Register, would amend regulations implementing Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). The proposed […]

A Sterling reputation tarnished

by Kylie Crawford TenBrook, Best Western International, Inc. In April, recordings of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist remarks to his half-black, half-Mexican girlfriend assistant* surfaced. Among those remarks were the following: It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to? You […]

Unemployed Job Applicants Pose Practical and Legal Dilemmas for HR

Employers have started hiring again and are often overwhelmed with huge numbers of resumes, even for entry-level positions. Some companies have decided that an effective way to identify the best candidates is to refuse to consider job applicants who are currently unemployed. But a number of human resources professionals, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), […]