HR Q&A

Dear Liz, I’m a human resources manager in a mid-sized firm. I often feel pulled between policy writing and regulatory stuff, and other projects (just listening, or creating programs) to make the environment more uplifting and engaging. My boss is an advocate for our employees, but several of the senior

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Dear Liz, For 15 months, when colleagues have asked, “How’s your new administrator doing?” I’ve said “Brilliantly!” because “Jane” is efficient and pleasant. My clients love interacting with her. But I have to acknowledge that there is a big problem, too. “Jane” has huge challenges with context. She has learned

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Dear Liz, I work as a contract recruiter and staffing manager for several firms. Right now I have an ethical pickle to deal with and I could use your advice. One of my clients, Company A, gives me a lot of work and I’m almost like an employee there. I’m

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Dear Liz, My business is growing. Everyone still reports to me, but I have a couple of lead people who supervise a lot of our activity. In the past I’ve set company goals; individual employees haven’t had formal goals. I’d like to have goals for everyone in 2012. How should

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Dear Liz, I’ve been an HR recruiter since 2002. I was taught to ask a job-seeker for his or her current salary. I heard you speak at a recruiting event and you said that we shouldn’t ask job applicants for their salary information. Why do you give that advice? Thanks,

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Dear Liz, I’ve grown my business to 17 employees and I need to hire more, but I’m having major attitude issues with the existing crew. They’re giving me huge resistance to trying anything new, and doing a lot of grumbling. I pay these people for a day’s work and lately

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Dear Liz, My CEO’s wife is our Marketing Manager. That causes some conflict and tension. How involved should I be in those issues? Thanks, Carol Dear Carol, If you’re going to lead HR and report to the CEO, you’re going to have to get very good at speaking forthrightly with

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Dear Liz, What is the best way to go about cutting out waste and red tape in our organization? We want to do it, but we don’t want to make more bureaucracy and red tape on our way to getting rid of red tape. Know what I mean? Thanks, Talia

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Dear Liz, I was surprised to post a job opening for a Team Leader in my group and have eleven different employees (out of 17 in the group) apply for it. I was stunned in fact. I had two people in mind for the role and now I’m not sure

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