Category: HR Strange But True

Sports Illustrated has come out with its annual list of the top 50 highest-earning athletes in American sports. And who is missing? It’s obvious, but it may surprise you. You can probably guess who is in the Top 10, but the top jock is not who you may think. It is someone who has been […]

We recently ran an article about a survey on odd desk décor. Among examples were a live pig, a lava lamp, and paper dolls. One SBT reader wrote in about an employee who had his own weird way to personalize his workspace. Here’s the story: “We had an employee who was apparently granted a bit […]

Have you ever had an employee miss work only to give you a far-fetched reason for their absence? A recent survey touched on a few odd excuses, like being too distraught after watching The Hunger Games. This SBT reader, who works in the construction industry, had a similar experience. The employee in question had an […]

A family-owned business recently got tangled up in a lawsuit when the HR manager accused her brother, one of the vice presidents, of having an illicit affair with a subordinate employee that created “sexual favoritism” in the workplace. Did she have a case? Here’s what happened. “Sandra” worked as an HR manager in Howard I. […]

Sure, you’ve seen typos and misspellings in a job description, and you think they could have just run spell-check. But did you ever see the name of the employer misspelled? This could just be a minor embarrassment to an employer and something that could quickly be corrected. The Hartford Courant Capitol Watch blog reports that […]

Yes, employees may be staring into space or scribbling on their agendas. But are they wasting time or reviving their brains to be more productive? A “daydreamer” study by Travelodge U.K. of 2,000 British workers across industries reports they daydream at least four times during their shifts: before lunch, after lunch, afternoon slump time (3 […]

Seems the job description for a model has changed. On America’s Next Top Model, Tyra Banks and cohorts selected the winning contestant/applicant based on posing ability and fashion sense. But on VH1’s new reality show, Model Employee, the winner may be judged on other skills entirely! Applicants must pass a rigorous physical and mental selection […]

Personal hygiene can be an issue in the workplace. While you may immediately think of body odor as the main culprit, this SBT reader shows that there are other grooming issues that HR may have to address. Here’s their story: “I had a fairly new manager of our California office call me for advice.  She […]

You may have been worried about pandemic flu and what you can do to prevent it in your facility. But what may be most contagious in your workplace may be something that actually is incubating there—depression. Stress-filled work atmospheres or workplaces with negative vibes from bullying bosses can lead to depression that spreads across the […]

Every girl dreams of her wedding, but not many dream of having it where they work. That is, unless you work for the Bank of Korea! Media report that the Bank’s headquarters even has a 200-seat auditorium as the venue, complete with a bride’s waiting room.  And the entire venture was designed and approved by […]