As anyone in human resources knows, employment law and regulation is a tangled, complicated, and ever changing field. In our business making sure the client's and employee's interests are protected is not just a matter of self preservation, it is critical to the success of our company.

The American Staffing Association offers certification for candidates able to demonstrate

Camila Matthews, BOLT's news Certified Staffing Professional

mastery of topics related to HR. A Certified Staffing Professional, (CSP) meets knowledge standards in areas like:  workplace safety, discrimination, best practices for pre-employment interviews, employee background checking, meals and rest periods, and overtime regulations.

A sample of the certification test questions are:

• Independent contractors are protected by California's workplace harassment laws. True or false?
• It is lawful in California to include the question "Have you ever been arrested?" on an application for employment. True or false? 

Knowing where the legal boundaries lie is vital to any business. That's why we place a high value on certification of our recruiters. Certification not only insures competence in the recruiting function, but it also is assurance to both clients and employees that their individual situations will be handled in accordance with the best practices in our industry.

Earlier this month Camila Matthews joined the ranks of staffing professionals certified by the American Staffing Association.

Camila began studying in earnest in January and finally took the plunge the first week of March. She had intended to take the ASA's practice tests, but she discovered that she had done so well that the software wouldn't allow her to take further practices! So she decided to clear her family out of the living room so she could take the live test.

She was surprised by some of the differences between the practice test questions and the live ones, but pressed on.  When she finished she got up and walked away, assuming it would take a while for the system to score her test. Her husband, Joe, walked in the room, glanced at the computer and saw that she'd passed.  He suggested she turn around and look at the screen!

Certification is an ongoing process with annual renewals contingent on continuing education. That provides assurance that clients and employees working with CSPs have the advantage of a consultant who is current in all aspects of employment law and practices.

Congratulations, Camila!