Archive for October, 2009

HR Roundtable panel member Bill Pinto discusses workplace-related legislation currently being addressed by Congress:

It may come as a surprise that Congress is not devoting all of its energies to finding solutions to the various health care issues. However, the members are addressing other matters, including several pieces of legislation that could impact the workplace.

Just this week, bills in the House and Senate were introduced to amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and overturn a Supreme Court decision from last term. In Gross v. FBL Financial Services, the Court held that it was not sufficient for the employee to show that his age was a “motivating factor” for his demotion. To prove his claim, the Court ruled that the employee must establish that his age was the determining cause of the employment decision. The pending legislation establishes the “motivating factor” standard as one of the ways in which an employee may demonstrate age discrimination. It …

Continue reading Pending legislation that HR managers should be following »

A. While it is always more challenging to get a new position when you are unemployed, in this economy many employers realize that there are very skilled and capable employees being let go and that not having a job isn’t necessarily reflective of you personally. The important thing is to stay positive and never play the victim. - Cay Gliebe, VP, Sales and Marketing, Northgate Arinso

A. During the process of screening resumes, those that show time lapses in employment appear to be viewed a little less favorable than those that don’t, especially if there has been an extended period of time between jobs. In order to change the negativity, an unemployed applicant must continue to show growth during this transitional period. Individuals can begin by having their resumes reflect involvement in professional development courses or field-related volunteer work to avoid lulls. – Ronald Miranda, HR Manager with Aldeasa A.J.V.

A. Prior to the economic downturn, applicants with …

Continue reading Do hiring managers tend to view unemployed applicants less favorably than those who are currently employed, and if so, what can an unemployed applicant do to make a more favorable impression? »