HR services Web-enabled

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, in-sufficient

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, which allow employers to submit information

received from applicants for review. An employer is alerted if there are

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

history.

* Online drug test results.

* An employee hot line, run through the Internet or the telephone, which

employees can call and anonymously voice any concerns.

Other services will be offered in the future, including I-9 and W-4

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.