Category: Recruiting

Recruiting is changing at a rapid pace. Some organizations are abandoning traditional methods for social media; some think software can do a better job than people.

Taming Tyrants: An ‘Essential Function’ for Managers?

Today we continue our look at taming TOTs—Terrible Office Tyrants—and we’ll take a look at an invaluable source for prewritten job descriptions. (Should all HR job descriptions list taming TOTs as an "essential function"?) Dealing with tyrant bosses is "a little like parenting minus the diapers and spitting up," says Lynn Taylor, whose tips were […]

How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior

Dealing with the boss got you down? Whether it’s whining or bragging or bullying, Lynn Taylor has tips for handling your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT). Taylor is the author of newly published Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior. Here are some of her suggestions: The Bragging Boss Got a boss […]

The Critical Line Between Essential and Marginal Functions

In yesterday’s Advisor, we looked at criteria for identifying “essential functions” for job descriptions. Today, again courtesy of Natividad Valdez of Washington State Department of Personnel, we share more tips on essential functions, and an introduction to a new job description management program. What criteria should be used to differentiate between marginal and essential functions? […]

Most Common ‘Essential Function’ Mistakes

Conceptually, “essential functions” seems easy enough, but it’s tricky when you get down to specifics. And there are common mistakes that are easily avoided. Here are some “essential” guidelines, courtesy of attorney Natividad Valdez of the Washington State Department of Personnel. Why Are Essential Functions So Important? From a human resources standpoint, identifying essential functions […]

‘If You Were a Dessert …’ and Other ‘Great’ Interview Questions

Yesterday’s Advisor focused on correct interview questions. Today, attorneys Sandra Rappaport and Mike Moye tackle more interview challenges, and introduce the key role of job descriptions. Your interview plan should focus on eliciting information about a candidate’s performance and experience, says Rappaport. Use open-ended questions rather than those that simply require a yes or no […]

When Hiring Slows, Hiring Claims Climb

It’s no secret that it is hard to find work in today’s economy. As a result, rejected candidates are more likely to put up a fight—and file lawsuits—says attorney Sandra Rappaport. So it’s more important than ever for interviewers to do everything right. It may seem like easy times for recruiters, but there’s a catch—rejected […]

‘Other Duties as Assigned’ Won’t Cut It in 2009

Writing job descriptions that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is tricky. In your efforts to be clear, you can also be exclusionary. Here are tips for handling this delicate duty. Pritchard’s tips for job descriptions are included in an article on HRTutor.com. Do You Have to Have Job Descriptions? No, says […]

Non-Prejudicial Language for ADA Job Descriptions

Writing job descriptions that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is tricky. In your efforts to be clear, you can also be exclusionary. Here are tips for handling this delicate duty. Take, for example, the requirement to be “able to walk” around the office. That language would be unnecessarily exclusionary if the […]

8 Do’s and Don’ts for Job Descriptions in ‘09

Yesterday’s Advisor covered legal issues with job descriptions; today’s issue features key do’s and don’ts and introduces an extraordinary resource of prewritten job descriptions. Here are BLR’s editors’ do’s and don’ts for worthwhile job descriptions that will really support HR operations. 1. DO give specifics For example, rather than stating that a maintenance worker “keeps […]

Can Job Descriptions Prevent Lawsuits?

Can job descriptions prevent lawsuits? Actually, they do, in many ways. Lack of clarity is the basis for many lawsuits—e.g., clarity about pay or about the reasons for employment decisions—and many of those suits can be avoided by clearly written, up-to-date job descriptions. Specifically, how do job descriptions protect against lawsuits and money damages? Here […]