I have noticed that many companies are using social networking tools like LinkedIn and Twitter as new channels to identify and prospect for top talent. These tools are increasing the velocity and decreasing the cost of talent searches in many companies. I recently spoke to a senior leader of talent acquisition who has driven over $1 million dollars of cost out of the recruiting process by eliminating search firm fees, while increasing the process velocity, simply by adopting a social media recruiting strategy.

There has been a buzz that has ebbed and surged since 2007 about the Employee Free Choice Act. It seems like the news picks up when Congress is talking about taking action, and subsided when the economic news of the day turns south and takes out attention. I am concerned that many of us may not really know what this proposed legislation (H.R. 1409, S. 560) is about, or why anyone should care. Let me try to describe the proposed changes in layman terms.