Discuss the role of residency requirements in hiring practices in general. As part of your discussion, consider whether or not residency requirements are, in general, a valid hiring criterion.
Overview: This week’s assignment forum focuses on the hiring process including testing procedures, hiring and promotion decisions, background checks, and recruiting methods. It is the second assignment forum related to your course project.
Your Unit 2 assignment forum is based on the NAACP v. North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue case study in Chapter 4 of your textbook. The case involved a claim of disparate-impact discrimination. At issue was the legality of a residency requirement for
firefighter candidates imposed by North Hudson. The court found the residency requirement invalid because it has a disparate impact on African American applicants.
This case study is the appeal to that court ruling. You will explore the topic of disparateimpact discrimination related to residency requirements and evaluate the importance of this ruling to human resources practice and your role as a human resources practitioner.
Instructions:
In your role as the Human Resource Manager you will have to evaluate your recruiting practices for any discriminatory requirements.
Read the NAACP v. North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue case study in Chapter 4 of your textbook.
Based on your review of the case study, address the following:
1. Discuss the role of residency requirements in hiring practices in general. As part of your discussion, consider whether or not residency requirements are, in general, a valid hiring criterion. In responding to this topic, be sure to address the residency requirement issues presented in the North Hudson case as part of your determination.
2. Evaluate how the ruling in this case (specifically disparate impact and business necessity) impacts your practice as a Human Resources Manager.
HRM341 – Employment Law
Assignment Forum Unit 2
3. After posting your submission to the assignment forum, review at least one other classmate’s posting. Use the RISE model of peer feedback to provide your classmate with constructive feedback that they may consider when finalizing this portion of the project later in the semester.
In crafting your responses to these questions, support your statements with evidence from the text, the North Hudson case study, and additional readings presented in the unit.
There are many things your employer can ask of you, but is living in a certain location one of them?
Maybe.
There are instances in which an employer can base hiring and firing decisions on where an employee lives, with a few exceptions.
Employers view employees with a long commute as risky, with good reason. If you have to drive or take publication transportation for several hours a day to arrive at and return from your job, you are more likely to be unhappy with the situation. And if you are unwilling to move closer to your employer’s location, chances are you will look for a job closer to home. Employers know this and if they are choosing between two applicants that are otherwise perfectly matched, there is a chance they could choose the one closer in distance.
It is also possible that someone working for a government entity could require employees to live within a city or county. They want employees to be part of the community, and in some cases, want them closer to work in case of emergency. In most cases, government employee residency requirements are addressed in union contracts, but at the very least should be written in stone when you are hired. Just make sure you get clarification in advance of accepting a government job.
The simple fact is unless an employer’s reason for not hiring you or for dismissing you does not fall into a protected category, they are free to do whatever they choose at their discretion. Employment at will allows you to leave when you choose and your employer to let you go or not hire you as they choose.
Are you considering a job with a long commute from home or are you in the process of relocating and hoping to keep your current job? Consider the following:
Is being active in the community in which your employer is located a job requirement?
Living outside of a community in which you are expected to participate socially can be a challenge. Especially when those expectations include early Saturday morning golf outings or Sunday afternoon employee charity events.