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Back to Work: Human Resource & Employment Issues
Leigh Goddard, a partner with the statewide law firm of McDonald Carano Wilson, encouraged her clients to take a fresh look at pre-employment screening that may be a barrier to some candidates.
For instance, employers commonly conduct criminal background checks on applicants for all positions. But as employers scramble to meet their staffing needs, this may be a good time to reconsider the need for criminal checks for some positions.
Widespread uses of non-compete agreements might also get a fresh look. While well-crafted non-compete agreements regularly are enforced by the courts in Nevada, they also may present a recruiting issue. “They could cause talented people to look elsewhere,” said Goddard.
The rapidly shifting environment brought changes to JobConnect, the state-run network that connects job-seekers with employers.
“We’re in a period of transition,” noted Soderberg, whose department oversees the employment service. “JobConnect is doing much more outreach.”
JobConnect specialists are going through state unemployment filings to find and recruit jobless workers with skills that may be sought by employers. The agency is also stepping up its testing of applicants to determine if they have the aptitude for training into higher-skilled jobs they may not have considered in the past.
Even the seemingly routine task of applying for jobs at JobConnect offices is getting a new approach. Employment specialists help applicants present themselves so they’re not left behind as corporate HR offices increasingly use technology that automatically screens applicants before their application is seen by a human being.
JobConnect these days isn’t just a place where entry-level workers go to find low-skill jobs.
Soderberg added JobConnect works ever more closely with community colleges, labor union apprenticeship programs and other training programs to make sure that higher-skilled and middle-skilled workers have appropriate skills for employers. The agency is focused on ensuring that training programs are nimble, quick and meet the customized needs of employers.
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