Discussion:The Tough Screener

Answer the following questions to the case, “The Tough Screener,” at the end of Chapter 4: What specific legal problems do you think Rosen might run into because of his firm’s screening methods? How would you suggest he eliminates these problems? 
Include at least one outside source supporting your answers. Explain your answers in 200 words.

Case Incident: The Tough Screener

Everyone who knows Mark Rosen knows he is tough when it comes to screening applicants for jobs in his firm. His company, located in a large northeastern city, provides financial planning advice to wealthy clients, sells insurance, and sets up pension plans for individuals and businesses. His firm’s clients range from professionals such as doctors and lawyers to business owners, who are sophisticated in financial matters and very busy people. They expect accurate advice provided in a clear and expeditious manner.

Rosen is always described as somewhat autocratic. The need to be very selective in whom he hires has led him to be extraordinarily careful about how he screens applicants. Some of his methods are probably beyond reproach. For example, he requires every applicant to provide a list of names and phone numbers of at least five people he or she worked with at each previous employer to use as references.

On the other hand, given legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the ADA, some of his other “tough” screening methods could be problematic. For example, Rosen requires that all applicants take a purported honesty test, which he found in the catalog of an office supply store. He also believes it’s extremely important to check every viable applicant’s credit history and workers’ compensation history. Unknown to his applicants, he runs a credit check on each of them, and retains the services of a firm that checks workers’ compensation and driving violation histories.

QUESTIONS