In yesterday’s post, we discussed the challenges employers will be facing as they begin rehiring employees into the workforce. We touched on four areas of which employers should be aware as they begin the hiring process - Job Descriptions, Advertising, Screening and Applications. In today’s post, we will look at another four key elements:
- Interviewing
- Record Keeping
- Temporary Workers
- Layoffs and Rehiring
Interviewing. It is important to ensure that managers conducting interviews be trained in what they can and can’t say legally during the interview. We recommend that at least two managers, or a manager and HR person, be present at all interviews. If an applicant calls later with a complaint, you have a witness for what was said. A set of interview questions that are used consistently for all applicants will help ensure that all applicants were treated fairly, and will assist you in determining the most qualified applicant.
Record Keeping. All of your hiring records should be kept for at least two years according to Title VII and Americans with Disabilities Act. This would include all applications of those not hired, advertisements, and interview notes. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act has injected uncertainty into the duration of an employer’s record keeping requirements with respect to pay decisions. This guidance is based upon the noted statutory law. In this period of uncertainty, before destroying any documents related to decisions about an employee’s pay, we recommend you conduct an audit of your pay practices, and seek legal council.
Temporary Workers. Many companies, when they are unsure of their long term hiring needs, hire temporary workers. As the business needs are clearer, employers can shift to full-time hiring, or hire the temporary worker. Temporary or part-time workers can be a good option because the company is able to observe the employee’s job skills. However, hiring temporary workers can be costly because many temporary placement firms charge a substantial fee if the employer permanently hires the temporary worker.
Lay-offs and Rehiring. If you have been through a reduction in force, and are considering rehiring, there are a few considerations. In some layoffs, employees are terminated with an expected return date. For instance, many businesses layoff for the winter, and employees are rehired in the spring. This is usually the case when an employer operates under a collective bargaining agreement, or employs trade related employees. However, in our current economy, when the reduction in force is due to business slowdown, layoffs are generally considered final terminations. Unless you made a promise to recall an employee, you are not obligated to do so. You are free to go through the selection process, and choose the most qualified applicant. Be cautious to ensure there are no discriminatory reasons for not returning a former employee, or promises to the contrary, in which case, you would need to restore the prior employees.
Don’t go at it alone.
While the laws governing employment regulations, hiring and terminations are complex, you should realize there are valuable resources available to assist you along your employment travels. Consider engaging the support of a Human Resources Consulting firm, or a Professional Employer Organization. These firms are experts in employment law and can significantly help reduce your risk of making a bad employment decision.
(Source: EPLI Pro, March, 2010 Newsletter)
We read in the news that the economy is improving, and unemployment is dropping slowly. The recent labor market outlook surveys show that a majority of employers are somewhat optimistic about job growth. This article discusses a few of the issues you should consider before rehiring or hiring in this post recession job market.
With nationwide unemployment still hovering just below 10%, and California well above 12%, we anticipate a long road ahead before employment returns to pre-recession levels. Some economists predict 3-5 years, at the soonest. What does that mean to the unemployed jobseeker, or the employer looking to re-hire?