HR Headliner: December 2018

2018 has been quite a year, hasn’t it?

No doubt, you’ve seen some awesome wins, some tough challenges, and plenty of situations that make you shake your head in disbelief! To remind you that you’re not alone, and to give you a few laughs as we head into year-end, here is a roundup of lighthearted stories from the world of HR.

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My most memorable experience in all my years recruiting was when I received a resume with a passport-sized photo on the front page and underneath the photo were the words ‘Not Actual Size’. I still laugh when I remember those three words and wonder what he was thinking. Did he really think I would believe he had a tiny little head and hold it against him?

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The hashtag #FiveWordsToRuinAJobInterview shows just how creative people can be when it comes to finding ways to not get hired… The idea is simple: Twitter users post five-word phrases that would guarantee they would get turned down for a job. A few of our favorites:

– There’s no drug test, right?  

– Anyway, they dropped the charges.

– How about I interview you.

– Where do my cats sit?

– You gonna finish that coffee?

– Is your secretary dating anyone?

– First, lemme take a selfie.

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An employee complained to me that he deserved a raise because if he hadn’t left our company for six months, about a year ago, he would be making more money by now. After confirming that he had, in fact, walked off the job the previous year, but was rehired into the same position at his former pay rate, I explained that his pay was appropriate for his position, and actually quite generous considering he has previously quit without notice. He told me that if I didn’t grant his 30-cent per hour raise, he would sue us. I told him no… he filed a discrimination claim with the EEOC… and lost.

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At last year’s office holiday party, my co-worker, who had already enjoyed two glasses of wine, was complaining about a recent assignment she had been given. She leaned over and whispered to the man next to her, “Don’t tell Bruce I said that.” The man was our CEO, Bruce.

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At our office Christmas party a few years ago, one co-worker arrived at the restaurant with a bag of Tupperware so she could pack up all the leftovers.

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My craziest office party story is the time two of our employees were competing on the dance floor to see who could do the best moves. It turned into a fight and they both were let go for inappropriate behavior.

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Sierra HR Partners can help you navigate troublesome HR questions!

Contact us today if you need help!