HR services Web-enabled for government

A leading electronic government company has joined with a human resources

service provider to offer Web-enabled government human resources applications.

NIC Technologies and Employee Relations Inc. partnered to bring Employee

Relations Network into the government sector, allowing local, state and

federal government agencies to automate the hiring process.

"What we've done is recognize that there are many things that potentially

fall through the cracks that are tremendously important," said Brent Barlow,

executive vice president of Employee Relations. By automating the hiring

process, issues such as discrimination, poor background checks and harassment

can be eliminated, Barlow said.

The network offers four main services:

* Online job applications so information can be submitted through kiosks

or the Internet.

* Online background checks where an employer can submit the information

it received from applicants to be reviewed. The employer is alerted if there

are any inconsistencies with the application or if the applicant has a criminal

history.

* Drug test results can be provided online.

* An employee hotline, run through the Internet or the telephone, where

employees can call and anonymously voice any concerns.

Other services will be offered in the future, including I-9 and W4 submissions,

benefit elections, personnel manuals and employee termination.

The network has been available in the private sector for a month. The system

uses a public-key infrastructure to secure documents and messages. A PKI

security system uses two keys, one held by the sender for encryption, and

the other by the receiver to unencrypt the document or message.

Steve Burhans, vice president of marketing at NIC Technologies, said once

an agency purchases the network, it could be implemented immediately. The

price depends on how many services are wanted, he said, adding that the

hot line is paid as a monthly service.