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“I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT HE MAY HAVE MADE
A HUGE ERROR ON THE VERY FIRST LINE OF
HIS RESUME THAT COULD BE DETERRING
PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS – INSTEAD OF
STATING, ‘OVER 20 YEARS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY
INDUSTRY,’ HIS RESUME READ, ‘OVER 20
YEARS IN THE PORNOGRAPHY INDUSTRY.’”
only a few weeks later and after having made the correction to his
resume, he had landed a position with a photography company. It
goes to show how very damaging one word can be.
Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
Stacey Bell, CHRL
Walkerton, ON
SECOND PRIZE: SAME NAME, WRONG
TERMINATION
Early in my career, I worked for a mid-sized manufacturer that
had fallen on hard times due to the economy. The senior executive
team focused on keeping everyone employed rather than laying
off staff. Under their guidance, the focus on research and development
escalated while manufacturing was reduced. Knowing they
would need skilled manufacturers once the market rebounded,
they eliminated several third-party contracts and had staff assume
those duties. Employees became groundskeepers, cleaners,
temporary clerical support – whatever job was available. Despite
these efforts, ultimately it became evident that they would have to
lay off some staff and they reluctantly decided to lay off 40 individuals.
The selection of the individuals took many weeks as the
executive team worked to ensure that skilled employees were retained
so the business would not be jeopardized when the market
recovered.
Four hours after all notifications were given, an employee asked
to speak to the HR and manufacturing managers. He explained
that he was concerned because he had seen a lot of activity over
the morning while he was planting flowers in the garden and wondered
where his colleagues had gone.
The reality quickly set in…he had the same name as another
employee who had been working on the critical research and
development innovations. The supervisor who was tasked with
coordinating the layoff meetings did not realize there were two
employees with the same name.
The wrong employee had been laid off.
Illustration by Crystal Carrette
HRPATODAY.CA ❚ MAY/JUNE 2016 ❚ 29