Posts by Allie
State marijuana legalization brings up new questions in hiring
is actually legal — it creates a confusing situation. Should an applicant be denied a job in another state because he or she utilizes a drug that is legal in the state in which he or she resides? One problem is that THC — the active ingredient in cannabis — can stay in the body…
Read MoreMarch 2015: unemployment rate steady
According to a news release from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate has not changed since February, continuing to hold steady at 5.5 percent, or 8.6 million unemployed individuals. In March, 126,000 new jobs were added to the workforce, way down from the previous monthly average of 269,000 new jobs…
Read MoreVirginia becomes 15th state to ban the box
After last month’s Senate vote to pass statewide ban-the-box legislation, the Virginia House of Delegates approved the new measure and Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed it into law on April 3. The new law requires state government job applications to remove all questions about an applicant’s criminal history. The law allows for background checks to be…
Read MoreSamples from previous Olympic Games to be re-tested for performance-enhancing drugs
Although it has been seven years since the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the International Olympic Committee has plans to continue screening past competitors and medalists for performance-enhancing drugs. If it finds drugs in the samples that it collected before and during the 2008 Games, the IOC can still strip winners of their medals. The…
Read MoreNew Mexico takes first steps toward decriminalizing medical marijuana
approved measures that take steps to decriminalize marijuana and ensure that licensed medical marijuana providers do not have felony criminal records. State legislators have made clear that, despite these new bills, the state is not yet ready to legalize cannabis. “This is not legalization,” said Senate bill sponsor Sen. Joseph Cervantes. “This is decriminalization of…
Read MoreWhat obligations do businesses have when it comes to avoiding religious discrimination?
The Supreme Court is expected to determine that, likely within the next few months. In the meantime, employers can avoid getting sued for religious discrimination by erring on the side of caution. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protects applicants or employees from being discriminated against due to religious garb and grooming practices, and employers are…
Read MoreEmployers continue to question how to handle marijuana legality during drug testing
Alaska officially legalized recreational use of marijuana for citizens that are over the age of 21. However, employers in the state — and in fact, across the country in other states in which recreational or medical cannabis is used — find that they are not sure how to handle employee drug tests when the drug…
Read MoreSix tips to keep your kids safe when hiring a caregiver
Whether you’re looking to hire live-in help for your kids, need a five-day-a-week day care center or just need to find a sitter now and then, you want the best care you can give your children while you’re away. Hiring a nanny or day care that you can trust can seem like a difficult task…
Read MoreUtah becomes 18th state to pass sexual orientation, gender identity anti-discrimination laws
passing legislation preventing employers from discriminating against potential or current employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Gov. Gary Herbert signed the bill that will amend the Utah Antidiscrimination Act. The law does have some exceptions when it comes to defining which employers are required to adopt this law; due to the…
Read MoreThree ways forgoing criminal background checks can backfire
While some jobs require employees to pass all kinds of criminal background checks in order to begin work — jobs like teachers and police officers — other types of positions may not be so stringent. However, whether you think background checks are necessary or not, it’s always better to err on the safe side. This…
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