Viewpoint - Viewpoint

Sometimes we feel so "safe" when we go on these sites. Just say what we want, how we feel - gee, let's let it all go..
It's okay we think, this is a site of my peers, and it doesn't really matter.  It won't have an effect on my business - legally, ethically or morally.. 

Little do they know....

How many times have I seen someone write on these networks,  "hey, I don't care, I have errors and omissions insurance.."

Then to later have to explain to their insurance group that when they wrote that, they really were just making a public, online statement, taking a stance,  and it really didn't mean that they were putting their business at risk, because they believed that their insurance was there to save them no matter what... problem is Errors and Omissions insurance, doesn't cover illegal or risky behavior that intentionally puts a business in jeopardy. If anyone disagrees, Read the small print.

There have been several instances where the DOJ, EEOC or the DOL and many of the other Alphabet Government agencies have contacted employers and recruiters based upon comments they wrote on Websites, questions asked on networks, or even by their job postings.. You know those jobs, the one that says, American Citizens ONLY apply.. or Immigrants ONLY apply.. or my favorite.. 3-5 years experience only.. no, not 3+ Years, not 5+ Years.. but 3-5 Years experience..

A really interesting but true story.. was when a legal firm was at a conference teaching employers how to displace American workers and only hire h1 visa employees. Someone videotaped their class, posted it on the internet. Cohen and Grisby were later investigated, as were their clients.. not a very cost effective way to do business.. even with Errors and Omissions insurance, and in this case.. well..

We don't also think of the repercussions that our comments will have on our reputation as a recruiter. The other day, on another network a recruiter wrote several things that they disliked about candidates.. OUCH.. well.. you know, there will be several candidates who will remember that post when the economy changes.. and I don't think that will fare will with that recruiter..

Our clients do worry about what you do as a recruiter.. because you see, they also know, that for every finger pointing at you, there is three pointing back at them.. If You get an audit, high chance that they will as well.

The problem is that many believe that this information does go away after a while.. but it doesn't - it may fade from your memory, but unfortunately, in a deep search, or even in an archive of an email database, that dreaded post can materialize.. for clients and candidates to see.

When we start typing, remember.. do you want your business to be remembered as one as ethical? One who has an upstanding reputation in the industry? or would you want to be remembered as one who doesn't care or worry about what you say online, because gee, you have errors and omissions?

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ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP

Karen Mattonen started a career in Human Resources when she served as a Recruiter for Snelling Corporation. Leveraging her tenure with Snelling, Karen founded Advanced Career Solutions in 1997 focusing on the  HVAC and Mechanical Construction industry. Her reputation for excellence is echoed in the satisfaction of clients and candidates she has serviced nationwide. Furthermore, Karen is esteemed for sharing her expertise in Recruitment Education, Ethics and promoting self-regulation for the Recruiting industry.

She has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.

Outside of the HR community, Karen Mattonen has been cited by Microsoft as a resource in how to use Microsoft Outlook as an ATS. She has also served as the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the 3^rd largest city in Utah.

Her passionate and tireless advocacy has led her to create HireCentrix - The Pulse of H.R, Regulation, Retention, Recruiting and Risk Management www.hirecentrix.com.  Hirecentrix is a company dedicated to providing training to the HR, recruiting and staffing industries, which includes a special focus on the ethical and legal dimensions through offering a full service resource for individuals to share and communicate, obtain current and accurate information, acquire and provide education and learning within the quickly expanding, diverse and rapidly changing Recruiting and Human Resource climate.

Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (www.americanstaffing.net)

Click here to reach Karen via email.

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