I’m kind of sick and tired of reading/listening/watching so much negative information on the economy. I get it. We’re down, we’re out, we’ll never come back – it’s the worst of all time. Sure, it makes for headlines – but otherwise, all the chatter probably isn’t really helping move us forward in a productive manner. And I have said this …
The Fight Against Cancer and A (Bad) Apple a Day…
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far away, I worked for a management consulting firm that often encouraged its clients to “cut out the cancer” when suggesting an uncooperative manager be promoted to junior vice president of pencil sharpening. Although I found their manner of communication, in general, to be a little too “In the Company of Men” …
Don’t Let Your Hiring Process Be Like The DPS
I had the unfortunate task of renewing my driver’s license recently. Since I’d renewed on-line the last time, I actually had to go into a DPS office to have a new picture taken – even more unfortunate. I probably don’t have to explain how painful this process is to you. I’m guessing most DPS offices are similar to those in …
When “The Customer is Always Right” Goes All Wrong…
Unless you live in a remote corner of Yosemite National Park and spend your days oggling double rainbows, you probably heard a newsy little tidbit about a fedup JetBlue employee and his beer swilling, f bomb dropping, emergency chute pulling, and in-all-ways dramatic exit from a JetBlue aircraft. After an encounter that he describes as the straw that broke the …
Money Talks: Our Problem of Paying for Problems
No huge surprise – BP announced today that Tony Hayward will be stepping down as CEO as of October 1st. After the disaster in the Gulf killed 11, falling stock prices, numerous failed attempts to stop the oil leak and even more numerous ill-placed comments and responses from Tony (including a yacht racing episode), it was inevitable a change would …
Misclassifying Contractors? Let’s Get the Basics Right, Folks.
Everyone wants to know how to get a “seat at the table.” Or how to transform their HR function into world class organization. Or how to stay on top of the latest and greatest with HR technology – including incorporating social media into their employee communications and recruiting practices. All valid desires. I’m totally for making HR cooler, making HR …
The Worlds Worst Employee Recognition Program: This Takes The Cake
One of my guilty pleasures is the reality show Cake Boss. Buddy and his stereotypical brass, word spitting, food loving, Italian family remind me of everything I loved about growing up amongst a slew of Tonys in my New York Italian family. And Buddy and crew crack me up as they wave their arms, yell instead of talk, and …
HR Metrics Gone Wild
Look, I love metrics – ask anyone on my staff – we measure everything at my company. Heck I’d measure how long it takes staff to go to the bathroom if I thought it would help them perform better! But there comes a time in every company when the Human Resource Department steps over the ledge. You know the time, …
Ugly, Fat, or Too Sexy? There’s a Job Out There That You’re Not Right For.
The unemployed aren’t the only people suffering job discrimination these days. Have you noticed what’s going on at American Apparel? They’re being taken to task for their hiring practices, and quite likely their promotional practices, which both require a photo submission and Project Runway-level fashion sense. Reaching further back in time, Hooters was up to their own shenanigans, allegedly firing …
The Unemployed Won’t Be Considered?
We have email conversations. Interesting email conversations. And I caught wind of an interesting back and forth between FOT's Kris Dunn and Tim Sackett as they broke down a trend reported by the Huffington Post the other week of companies advertising in job postings that they will not consider the unemployed. Of course, your gut reaction as a good HR …