Comments on: Proctology in the service of HR http://corcodilos.com/blog/249/proctology-in-the-service-of-hr The insider's edge on job search & hiring™ | Copyright © 2008 North Bridge Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:59:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Robert Watson http://corcodilos.com/blog/249/proctology-in-the-service-of-hr/comment-page-1#comment-4873 Robert Watson Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:37:37 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=249#comment-4873 Ray/Nick, You reminded me of a good news story from a manufacturing company. All of the unions went on a prolonged strike - 3 weeks or more - in second half of November. There were picket lines, but not violent - more a show of strength and solidarity. As it moved into December, the company send private letters home to the spouses saying that if they wanted to discuss interest-free loans so they could buy Christmas presents, they could do so with absolute confidentiality. "Respect for People" was something which was practised, but those three words never appeared in print until 10 years later! Cheers, R Ray/Nick,
You reminded me of a good news story from a manufacturing company. All of the unions went on a prolonged strike – 3 weeks or more – in second half of November. There were picket lines, but not violent – more a show of strength and solidarity. As it moved into December, the company send private letters home to the spouses saying that if they wanted to discuss interest-free loans so they could buy Christmas presents, they could do so with absolute confidentiality. “Respect for People” was something which was practised, but those three words never appeared in print until 10 years later! Cheers, R

]]> By: Nick Corcodilos http://corcodilos.com/blog/249/proctology-in-the-service-of-hr/comment-page-1#comment-4780 Nick Corcodilos Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:04:39 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=249#comment-4780 Ray, I'm glad to hear a positive story. What goes around, comes around. True loyalty comes through in action, not words (translation: company "policy"). I'm tickled to hear about a company that goes above and beyond, and whose employees return the favor! Ray,
I’m glad to hear a positive story. What goes around, comes around. True loyalty comes through in action, not words (translation: company “policy”). I’m tickled to hear about a company that goes above and beyond, and whose employees return the favor!

]]> By: Ray http://corcodilos.com/blog/249/proctology-in-the-service-of-hr/comment-page-1#comment-4768 Ray Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:56:56 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=249#comment-4768 Re the 'willing to compensate you" link: I worked for one of the best companies around when it came to helping, respecting and taking care of employees. Paid one man with terminal cancer his full salary til the day he died, although he hadn't been able to work for over a year. Bumped the pension of their first retiree to credit him with 20 years because the company was only 18 years old. One had a stroke so severe he didn't even recognize his family and totally forgot his considerable IT knowledge. But after two years of rehab (on full salary), they found a new position for him commensurate with his reduced ability - but did not reduce his salary. A family medical emergency made me miss two months, then often a week at a time later. They didn't charge it against my vacation or pay. That's why when they needed me to work 24/day for four days in a row, I was glad to do it. That's why I worked some 140-hour weeks. They took care of me, I took care of them. Re the ‘willing to compensate you” link:
I worked for one of the best companies around when it came to helping, respecting and taking care of employees.
Paid one man with terminal cancer his full salary til the day he died, although he hadn’t been able to work for over a year.
Bumped the pension of their first retiree to credit him with 20 years because the company was only 18 years old.
One had a stroke so severe he didn’t even recognize his family and totally forgot his considerable IT knowledge. But after two years of rehab (on full salary), they found a new position for him commensurate with his reduced ability – but did not reduce his salary.
A family medical emergency made me miss two months, then often a week at a time later. They didn’t charge it against my vacation or pay.

That’s why when they needed me to work 24/day for four days in a row, I was glad to do it.
That’s why I worked some 140-hour weeks.

They took care of me, I took care of them.

]]> By: Lucille http://corcodilos.com/blog/249/proctology-in-the-service-of-hr/comment-page-1#comment-4764 Lucille Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:28:45 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=249#comment-4764 In the references post, you seemed to think sunshine was a good thing. But your references are (if you set them up well) going to be laudatory. However, there is great deal of difference between showing sunshine on your work which is what references show and your abililty to manage your life, which is what background checks show. I don't agree that you don't have anything to hide with references. You have to choose them carefully. But at least if you don't they are generally checked out after the company is ready to offer you the job. I am very unhappy with showing background data because it done before an interview, and because there aren't enough privacy laws to protect me. I disagree with both posts. If I seem as if I have something to hide to an HR person, I don't. But I don't want the presumption either. In the references post, you seemed to think sunshine was a good thing. But your references are (if you set them up well) going to be laudatory. However, there is great deal of difference between showing sunshine on your work which is what references show and your abililty to manage your life, which is what background checks show. I don’t agree that you don’t have anything to hide with references. You have to choose them carefully. But at least if you don’t they are generally checked out after the company is ready to offer you the job. I am very unhappy with showing background data because it done before an interview, and because there aren’t enough privacy laws to protect me. I disagree with both posts. If I seem as if I have something to hide to an HR person, I don’t. But I don’t want the presumption either.

]]> By: Aimee http://corcodilos.com/blog/249/proctology-in-the-service-of-hr/comment-page-1#comment-4763 Aimee Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:53:15 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=249#comment-4763 While job hunting, I've noticed that many applications ask you to sign background check forms then add: "You agree not to hold X company liable for the disclosure of such information...." It's as if they KNOW they're engaging in some form of duplicity. I don't think these types of companies will sign a confidentiality agreement when they pretty much tell you upfront that they withhold the right to screw you. Nick, I posted a quick question about spouses as references on the message board. Hopefully you'll have a chance to look at it! While job hunting, I’ve noticed that many applications ask you to sign background check forms then add: “You agree not to hold X company liable for the disclosure of such information….”

It’s as if they KNOW they’re engaging in some form of duplicity. I don’t think these types of companies will sign a confidentiality agreement when they pretty much tell you upfront that they withhold the right to screw you.

Nick, I posted a quick question about spouses as references on the message board. Hopefully you’ll have a chance to look at it!

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