One of the requirements of a PERM application is to post an internal job offer within the company. This is one of the three major job advertisement requirements that employers must complete as part of their overall application. While posting an internal job offer might not seem like a challenging step, it does come with it’s own risks. This is especially acute in work environments that might not be fully aware of the benefits that diversity brings to the workplace. In the worst cases, posting about a job in conjunction with a PERM application can lead to a lot of misunderstanding in the employee base regarding job security, the types of people sought after by the company, and the values of equality that should underlie every corporate image. An employee has every right to apply for the job listed, but must be aware that they will receive no special treatment because of their current status with the company.
Here are the specifics of posting a job internally:
Showing all DOL Specifications – The job posting must be made with all the DOL specifications written clearly on it. The employer is legally bound to declare that if no one is found suitable for the job then a PERM application will be sought to fill the role.
It Must Be Up For 10 Days – This is to ensure that as many people in the office can see it. While this might actually seem like a short period of time, posting internally is only one component of the recruitment process that includes a job order, a posting in local newspaper, and attendance at a job fair.
Wages Must Be Listed – The salary is clearly one of the most important elements to a job posting. If the job is to be filled through a PERM application, employees must be aware how much that individual is making.
This is where the question of workplace diversity becomes important. Part of the job posting should perhaps include a statement about the importance of specialists in a company. The reality of the American education system is such that producing specialists in mathematics and quantum physics is not one of it’s strong points. Employees must be reminded of this, and it should coincide with a broader internal communications campaign that stresses the importance of diversity in the workplace. A lot of PERM applicants come from foreign countries like India, Bangladesh, China, Korea, and so forth, and the cultural integration of these workers takes time. It’s important to stress that the incoming foreign national is a uniquely skilled individual, and that it has nothing to do with the deficiencies of current staff.
Union Reps Must Be Notified – If the job falls into a union, then the union rep must be noticed weeks in advance of the PERM application.
Following these rules is paramount to a successful PERM application. Immigration labor advertising is all about transparency and showing employees that foreign nationals will bring immense value to the work culture of the company on a social and innovative level.
