Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

The One Interview Technique that Gets Real Answers

In real estate it’s location, location, location, and in interviewing it’s probe, probe, probe. Typically the candidate’s first answer to your interview questions will be reasoned and impressive—and well rehearsed. It’s by probing deeper that you’ll get real insight. Asking probing questions is the key to eliciting meaningful information from well-prepared applicants. Here’s an example […]

Focus on Ten Mistakes, Eliminate 90% of Problems

Sometimes it seems that there are one thousand ways to go wrong managing people, but attorney Peter Janus suggests that 10 critical errors cause most of the problems Focusing on those ten instead of trying to train managers and supervisors on everything is the way to get the most bang for your buck. Janus is […]

Nine Ways NOT to Hire the Brightest and the Best

Hiring is such a critical role for managers and supervisors, yet many of them take a casual or mistaken (read legally dangerous) view of the job. In today’s Advisor, we share a few of the worst interview approaches we’ve come across. 1. Great Interview—Fascinating Person We had great rapport—we talked baseball (she’s also a Sox […]

Tuition Assistance: Is Your Plan Average, Better, or Worse?

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Tuition assistance should be easy enough to structure and offer, but it’s not. We found a number of tricky questions that companies must answer before offering it. So for today’s survey, we decided to find out just what companies are offering and how they are structuring their plan. […]

What to Say— FMLA Pattern and Intermittent Absences

By CED Editor Stephen D. Bruce, PHR In yesterday’s Daily, we heard Paul Falcone’s advice on just what to say when employees say “It’s off the record.” Today, it’s what to say for excessive absenteeism and FMLA abuse, plus an introduction to an extraordinary 10-minutes-at-a-time training program.

The 10 Steps to a Bulletproof Investigation

In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered attorney Jennifer Brown Shaw’s suggestions for—and warnings about—internal investigations. Today, Shaw’s 10 steps required for a good investigation, and an introduction to a unique checklist-based audit program. Shaw is a partner in the law firm of Shaw Valenza LLP in Sacramento. Her comments came during the Society for Human Resource […]

What You Must Do to Prevent Retaliation Lawsuits

In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured attorney Michael Faillace’s suggestions for avoiding the first prong of retaliation charges. Today, the second and third prongs, and an introduction to an extraordinary 10-minute-at-a-time training program. Faillace, managing partner of Michael Faillace & Associates in New York City, offered specific steps HR managers can take to prevent retaliation at […]