December 13, 2007

House of Representatives passes Trade Adjustment Assistance Program extension | EEOC issues best practices guide for employment selection processes

Legislation updates provided by Rob Smith, Ceridian manager of Government Relations

House of Representatives passes Trade Adjustment Assistance Program extension
EEOC issues best practices guide for employment selection processes

House of Representatives passes Trade Adjustment Assistance Program extension
On December 11, the House passed a bill to authorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program for three months through March 31.

This is the most significant action Congress has taken on TAA since the House passed a broad bill that would extend the program to service sector workers, increase the health care tax credit to 85 percent for individuals who choose COBRA coverage, and authorize the program through 2012. The Senate hasn't taken the bill up and remains divided over whether to expand the TAA program and whether this expansion should be linked to approving presidential trade negotiating authority.

The Senate is expected to pass the three month extension in the next couple of days to allow the current TAA program to operate until the House and Senate can reach a compromise on a larger reauthorization bill.

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EEOC issues best practices guide for employment selection processes
Earlier this month, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a fact sheet on the application of federal anti-discrimination laws in tests administered to job applicants and potential hires by employers. The fact sheet -- written to ensure that U.S. employers are in compliance with all applicable employment non-discrimination laws -- describes common types of employer administered tests and selection procedures that are used in a lawful and efficient way.

The EEOC document can be accessed on their Web site at www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/factemployment_procedures.html.

Examples of best practices listed in the fact sheet include cognitive tests, physical ability tests, credit checks, criminal background checks and sample job tasks.

The EEOC enforces the federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, namely; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which bars workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act -- which bars discrimination against qualified individuals with a disability, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act -- which outlaws age discrimination.