Should an employer conduct background checks on its potential employees? Should a recruiter conduct them on their contract candidates?

Well, on one hand, background checks can protect the employer from negligent hiring lawsuits, which arise when an employee hurts someone and the employer should have known they were a risk based on their background. If you are a recruiter who serves as the Employer of Record for your contractors, the…

Companies that simply view interns as cheap labor could be missing out on a great opportunity, according to a Bloomsberg Businessweek "Today's Tip" post by Jim Belosic, Founder of ShortStack.

Instead, Belosic recommends that employers look at internships as an "extended…

With unemployment still around 9 percent and all of the uncertainty that has stirred up in Washington over the debt ceiling debacle, talk about a potential double-dip recession is resurfacing. But a sequel to the Great Depression is unlikely based on the demand for temporary/contract workers,…

We've all heard the negative stereotypes about Generation Y, also known as Millennials, which roughly encompasses those born in the mid-70′s to the early 2000′s.  They have an entitlement attitude. They think too highly of themselves.  They need constant feedback.

Whether these stereotypes are accurate or just gross generalizations is up for debate. But our HR staff learned at the 2011 Cleveland HR Star Conference that these younger…

Discrimination charges investigated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reached a record high in 2010, and 2011 is expected to outpace last year, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek article.

In fiscal year 2010, there were 99,922 charges of…

We reported a few months ago how it is taking longer and longer for hiring managers to fill direct-hire positions in their quest for the "perfect candidate." The negative impact of this is obvious to recruiters who have to get a candidate placed before they can get paid. But according to a recent post in  Top…

We recently reported on a proposed bill in the House that would require all American employers to use E-Verify.  A recent Human Resources Executive Online article provides more details about the…

A recent Workforce Management article has confirmed what Top Echelon Contracting already knew and has reported numerous times: older…

An interesting article on ERE.net discusses the qualities that help workers successfully work from home on "virtual teams." While the article is addressed mainly to employers, recruiters placing candidates who will be allowed or required to work on projects from home, possibly on a contract basis, can gain some helpful…