What ethical guidelines will you put into place to make sure you are not only adhering to your organizations mission, but also the law? What recommendations do the authors give? How does professionalism play a role for the assessor? How important are assessor competencies mentioned in table 7.1 of our text?

The info needed: The practice of individual assessment is not conducted in a vacuum; there are external considerations, such as legal, professional, and ethical guidelines, to consider. This chapter addresses the external issues relevant to the assessment process and, where possible, we offer additional guidance or suggestions that complement, and are consistent with, existing legal standards and published guidelines.

In these discussions, we offer ideas, options, and some choices for assessors to consider in their individual assessment practice. Please note that the specific ideas and options presented here are not exhaustive. There may well be other equally appropriate alternatives to consider, of a legal, professional, or ethical nature, within the specific context of each unique assessment delivery situation.

LEGAL ISSUES From the perspective of the Uniform Guidelines for Employee Selection Procedures, (1978), any system that is used for employee selection or promotion, including individual assessment, is considered to be a test. As such, individual assessment is expected to be consistent with federal, state, and local employment laws. Depending on the employer’s size, location, and type of business, a variety of laws may apply.