Seven Web Sites for Busy HR Pros

Track new laws and get questions answered.
By Robin Thomas, J.D.

The Internet can be both a blessing and a curse. The sheer volume of material often is overwhelming, and its accuracy is frequently questionable. Unless you know exactly where to go to get the right information, searches can be time-consuming.

The following is a list of seven government and private sector Web sites that provide HR-related information. These sites are regularly updated and, best of all, they are free.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov). Statistics reported on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) site are grouped by category. For example, the "Employment and Unemployment" section includes figures on national and local employment, employment projections, employment by occupation, and job turnover. The "Wage, Earnings, and Benefits" link includes statistics on average hourly earnings, wages by area and occupation, and employee benefits. This section also includes a link to the National Compensation Survey (NCS), which provides salary, wage, and benefit data for localities, geographic regions, and the whole country. In addition, thousands of job descriptions compiled by the BLS are available in its Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Department of Labor ELAWS (dol.gov/elaws). ELAWS, the Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses, is the federal Department of Labor's (DOL) interactive system that provides more than 20 "advisors" to answer questions. Users can determine which of the DOL's laws apply to their organization by starting with the "FirstStep Employment Law Advisor." This advisor asks for responses to questions regarding the nature and size of a business and then provides a list of laws that are likely to apply. Several of the topic-specific advisors address compliance with regulations from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act. In addition, they cover the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. The Poster Advisor assists in determining which posters should be displayed in a particular workplace.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Web site offers information on civil rights laws and regulations. It includes enforcement guidance documents; portions of the agency's Compliance Manual, which is used by EEOC staff to evaluate and process claims; and the full-text of employment discrimination laws.
The agency also provides fact sheets on employment discrimination topics, including sexual harassment, equal pay and discrimination.
FindLaw (findlaw.com). FindLaw assists in legal research and business law information. Under the heading "For the Public," the "Small Business" section provides information on starting a business, employment law and HR, and intellectual property. For full texts of court cases, visit the "For Legal Professionals" section.
Job Accommodation Network (jan.wvu.edu). This free consulting service funded by the DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy offers information and advice to employers on job accommodations and is separated into different portals for various stakeholders. The "Searchable Online Accommodation Resources" link provides information on the causes and symptoms of various diseases and illnesses and suggestions for accommodation. In the section "JAN Publications," the site has job accommodation ideas and fact sheets on medical conditions.
OSHA's Technical Links (osha.gov/SLTC). This section of the OSHA Web site features assistance on more than 200 safety topics. OSHA created the Web site to promote voluntary reduction of workplace hazards by providing easy access to compliance information and resources. The site provides reference materials, including OSHA compliance documents, training slides and course handouts.
Thomas (thomas.loc.gov). The Thomas site, named for Thomas Jefferson and run by the Library of Congress, serves as a gateway to Congress and federal legislation. The site allows visitors to track federal legislation, retrieve the text of a bill, identify the sponsors, and follow the bill's progress through the different committees. The site also offers contact information for Congressional representatives.