The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce is seeking to fund a study on structural barriers to hiring. The focus is on job requirements that may not be necessary to fulfilling job duties but have the practical effect of creating a barrier for applicants otherwise qualified to do the job. For example, a driver’s license requirement
Hiring
New Form I-9 Released
On November 14, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new Form I-9. The following are key changes in the revised form:
- The new form is available in paper or hardcopy form or in a fillable computer form.
- Completion of the form on a computer is now enhanced by prompts, drop-down menus
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Massachusetts Limits An Employer From Asking Applicants About Salary History
An applicant’s wage history is often a factor employers consider in making hiring decisions. In fact, it is not uncommon for an employment application to ask how much a candidate made at their previous positions. Various good faith reasons may support this question. For example, how much an applicant was paid may indicate, beyond job…
Can An Employer Refuse To Hire An Applicant For Being Too Obese?
Maybe – the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that refusing to hire an employee due to his or her obesity does not constitute disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) unless certain conditions are met.
In Morriss v. BNSF Railway Co., the employer maintained a policy that it would not…
Are Your Employees Looking For New Jobs?
Yes – your employees are probably looking for new jobs. According to a recent article, the number of online job searches spikes in January.
The most popular day for online job searches on Monster.com is the first Wednesday after New Year’s Day. On that day, there are typically 70% more online job searches than…
Avoiding Toxic Employees May Be More Beneficial Than Hiring Superstars
According to a Harvard Business School study, an employer’s decision to avoid employing a toxic employee may prove to be more than twice as profitable as the decision to hire a superstar.
The study analyzed data concerning over 50,000 employees at 11 companies to quantify the costs of employing toxic employees vs. the benefits of…
Minnesota Has More Job Openings Than Job Seekers
If you’re an employer struggling to fill open positions with qualified candidates, you’re not alone.
According to the Star Tribune, the number of job openings in Minnesota is now greater than the number of unemployed job seekers. Specifically, in October of 2015, there were 97,977 job openings, but only 89,793 Minnesotans seeking jobs. The…
White House Takes Executive Action To Ban the Box For Federal Agencies
On November 2, 2015, President Obama announced new executive action to “ban the box” by requiring federal agencies to wait until later in the hiring process to inquire about an applicant’s criminal history. In addition, the President is supporting efforts in Congress to impose similar ban-the-box requirements on the entire federal government as well as…
Questions That Employers Should Avoid During The Hiring Process
When recruiting and interviewing new employees, there are a variety of potential landmines that employers should do their best to avoid. Here are some of the topics about which employers should not inquire during the hiring process – either because they directly reveal a protected status or may indirectly reveal a protected status:
- Marital status
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Can Employers Require Job Applicants To Pay For the Costs Of Background Checks?
Generally no – Minnesota law provides that, unless specifically authorized by law, no employer or prospective employer may “require an employee or prospective employee to pay for expenses incurred in criminal or background checks, credit checks, or orientation.” Minn. Stat. § 181.645.
The primary exception for the rule is for teachers. Minnesota law allows…