Legal implications of helping students find employment

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the legal exposure faced by faculty if they are involved in helping students find jobs when they graduate.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the current federal employment laws as they relate to activities that many faculty undertake in helping students find employment.

Findings

The candidate referral activities that faculty frequently engage in could result in them being classified as an employment agency making them subject to federal employment discrimination laws also faced by employers.

Practical implications

Universities should establish clear guidelines to instruct faculty on actions that can and those that should not be undertaken when helping students find employment.

Originality/value

Most faculty have no idea that their actions in assisting students find employment could result in potential legal exposure for themselves and their university. This paper offers suggestions to reduce the potential risks.

Citation

Elder, B. and Sneed, J. (2011), "Legal implications of helping students find employment", Management Research Review, Vol. 34 No. 6, pp. 702-711. https://doi.org/10.1108/01409171111136220