Human Resources Recruitment- Memo Report

Recruitment

Theaimofthisexerciseis torespondto directionsfromyouremployertodesign arecruitmentexercisethathopefullywillincreasethediversityofacity departmentwhilecomplying withfederallawsconcerningemployment discriminationandfairrecruitment/testingmethods.

Youworkinthepublicsector.Specifically,youworkinHRforamedium-sized cityofapproximately1millionpeople.  Approximately30%ofthecity’sresidents areracialor ethnic minorities,withasignificant proportionofAfrican-American andHispanicresidents.

Atpresentthereareapproximately900firefightersemployedbythecity;afull complementof firefighterswould be1000firefighters.

Thecitywantstorecruitapproximately100additionalfirefighters.  Atthe presenttime,thefiredepartmentisoverwhelminglywhite(andmale).  Many of thecurrentfirefightersarethesonsandnephewsof formeror currentfire fighters.

Inthepast,potentialrecruitstothefiredepartmentlearnedofthecivilservice examsthroughwordof mouth fromrelativeswhoworkedforthefire department;someofthemhadaccesstoa‘bank’ of formerexamquestionsthat hadbeencollectedandstoredat firestations.

Theentryexamforthefiredepartmentinthepastconsistedofaseriesofessay questions,posing hypotheticalquestionsthatafirefightermightencounterina fire.  High-rankingofficersinthefiredepartmentdesignedthequestions.

Applicantswererankedaccordingtotheirscores ontheexamandaspositions becameavailableapplicantswereappointedintheorderin whichtheywere rankedonthetest.Aminimumscorewasrequiredtobeplacedonthelistfrom whichappointmentsweremade.

Generallyspeaking,whileapproximately25%ofnon-minoritycandidatesscored wellenoughto beplacedonacivilservicelistfromwhichappointmentswould be made,andhadagoodchanceof beingappointed,onlyapproximately10%of minoritycandidatesscoredwellenoughto‘pass’theexam,andwerenotplaced onthehiringlist.

TheFireCommissionwouldliketoincreaseminorityrepresentationintheranks oftheFireDepartment,if possible.  TheCommissionhasaskedthecityHR departmentforwhichyouworkto designarecruitmentcampaignandsuggestan entranceexamthatmightachieveitsgoalsofincreasingminorityrepresentation inthefiredepartment.

WriteamemorandumtotheFireCommissionabout recruitmentpracticesoftheFireDepartmentandtosuggestwaystoachievethe Commission’sdesiredgoals.Inanyevent,youwishtoavoidlitigationoverthe testresultsandbeableto defendtheresultsoftheentranceexam,evenifit failed toachievethecity’sgoalofincreasingminorityhiring.

Inyourmemorandum,youshouldcoverthefollowingpoints:

CritiquethepastrecruitmentpracticesoftheFireDepartmentinlightof what youknowaboutthelegalprinciples of discrimination,particularlythedifferent theoriesofracediscriminationunderTitleVII.  Animportantresourcewould be EEOCguidelinesonracediscrimination

http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/race-color.html

http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/race-color.html

Importantcaseswould beGriggsv.DukePower,

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/401/424

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/401/424

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/411/792

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/411/792

Wouldyourecommendfollowingthesamerecruitmentpracticesofthepast(e.g., word-of-mouthrecruitment,essay-basedexamquestions)?Whyor whynot?

Whatwouldyousuggestintherecruitmentcampaignyouhavebeenaskedto helpdesign?  Whatspecificrecruitmenttechniquesmightincreasethediversity ofthepoolofapplicants?

Thereis apossibilitythatdespiteyourbesteffortstoavoidadverseimpact,the assessmentmethodsmightproducearesultin which minoritiesachievedlessthan

80%ofthepassrateof non-minorities.Whatadvice wouldyougiveinadvanceto avoidapotentiallysuccessfullawsuitchallengingtheresults oftheexamination? Animportantcasewould beRicciv.DeStefano

Youcanusetheabovepointstostructureyourmemorandum,butbesureto considerandaddressthefollowingissues,whichareimplicitintheexercise:

1. Describetheconceptsof disparatetreatmentanddisparateimpactliabilityunder TitleVII,andanalyzewhythepreviousrecruitment/testing methodsmight violateTitleVII.

2. Discusswhatstepsyouwouldtakeinanefforttoincreasethepoolof minority applicantsand,hopefully,avoidalowerpassrateforminoritycandidates.

1. Discusswhatadviceyouwouldgiveinadvanceaboutbeingableto defendyour recruitment/testingevenif minoritiesfailto achieveapassratethatis at least  80%of non-minoritycandidates.ReadtheRiccicasecarefullyanddiscussthe

wisdomof usingtest-developmentexperts.Canyoulocateawebsiteforatest- developmentexpertbusinessanddescribewhattheywoulddo?

Be sure to use outside sources to support your themes as assertions in your paper.

Theformatforthisassignmentshould beamemorandumtotheFire Commission,usingparagraphsandcompletesentences. Make sure to include in-text citations.