Peopleclick's Internet Applicant Compliance Program Allows Vast Pool of Federal Contractors to Search & Select Applicants In Compliance with Rigorous New Laws

Business Wire, Dec 20, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Peopleclick, Inc. today announced its Internet Applicant Compliance Program. This offering from Peopleclick, the leading total workforce acquisition (TWA) provider for global companies, is designed to help federal contractors ensure their hiring processes meet The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) Feb. 6, 2006, deadline for the revised definition of an Internet applicant.

Leveraging Peopleclick's government compliance expertise, the Internet Applicant Compliance Program includes Peopleclick Research Institute (PRI) consulting services around recruitment policy and procedures, as well as recruiter training and best practices. Peopleclick is also adding enhanced record keeping features to its Recruitment Management System (RMS). These services will assist federal contractors in achieving compliance by the OFCCP's Feb. 6, 2006, deadline.

The new OFCCP regulations are a federal government response to the exponential use of the Internet for recruiting. The definition of an applicant is important because government regulations require employers to collect race and gender information on all applicants to help recognize discrimination. Additionally, only an applicant may establish a case of discrimination in hiring and an employer must be able to identify all applicants in order to recognize discrimination.

"The OFCCP's final regulations for the new definition of an Internet applicant signify much more than record keeping compliance. It also demands new and consistently applied sourcing protocols from recruiters searching for quality hires," said Gerry Crispin, SPHR, chief navigator, CareerXroads. "Peopleclick's long-term investment in compliance services and expertise to support the federal contractor marketplace should pay extra dividends for its clients," added Crispin.

New regulations now require federal contractors to record the details of the searches used to source candidates to ensure that search methods do not discriminate against a protected class. While many systems may be able to manage the capture of applicant EEO data, few will be able to allow recruiters to search their talent database in a compliant manner. Failure to comply with the new regulations by Feb. 6, 2006, could result in: a mandated change to internal processes and procedures; inability to defend hiring processes if sued; government fines; and/or loss of federal contractor status.

"Peopleclick is helping federal contractors adapt their recruiting processes to meet government requirements and accurately capture critical data," said Kathy Barton, Peopleclick's senior vice president of marketing and product management. "Because of PRI's government compliance knowledge, Peopleclick understands the challenges of complying with the new definition of an applicant and can walk clients through the process."

On Jan. 10, 2006, Peopleclick is conducting a complimentary webinar, "Preparing for the New Definition of an Internet Applicant" with Lisa D. Grant Harpe, Ph.D., a PRI consultant, and Eric E. Edwards, a Peopleclick product management director. To register for the webinar, please visit: www.mkt.peopleclick.com/mk/get/webinar_definition_applicant121405.> Webinar topics include:

--Record keeping requirements;

--Differences between working with internal and external candidate databases;

--What constitutes "basic qualifications";

--What actions constitute "considering";

--How to handle candidate searches; and

--Who can be excluded from the applicant pool.

To learn more about Peopleclick's Internet Applicant Compliance Program, or to download PRI's white paper on "The OFCCP's Definition of an Internet Applicant: Interpreting the Final Rule," please visit www.peopleclick.com.

About Peopleclick

Raleigh, N.C.-based Peopleclick Inc., a privately held company founded in 1997, is one of the world's leading enterprise-wide Total Workforce Acquisition providers. Peopleclick provides a holistic solution that includes products, services and expertise encompassing recruitment and vendor management, diversity planning and EEO/Affirmative Action compliance. Peopleclick currently serves more than 2,500 customers in 97 countries, including 54 of the Fortune 100. For more information on Peopleclick's products and services, visit www.peopleclick.com or call 1-877-820-4400.