Comments on: Lying Liars

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:37:00 +0000

If you are dumb enough to lie on an application, you aren’t of a high enough caliber to be hired. 🙂

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:30:00 +0000

So I know of a situation where a brother of a co-worker ended up dating someone a I worked with and this person went on to tell his supervisor that he basically lied about his apartment, what he did and so on. Could this person be fired now that all of thos been brought to his supervisors attention? I’ve always been curious whether there really is an HR blackblook that companies keep track of people they don’t want to hire?

By: Al Sklover

Al Sklover — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Dear EvilHRLady:

I am from “the other side.” For over 25 years as an employment attorney, I’ve counseled and represented (in negotiation and court)thousands of terminated employees. First, I want to compliment you on something you did: when considering how to conduct the termination meeting, you inquired into the life of the terminated employee. That is, you considered his/her perspective when considering how to deal with him or her in the termination meeting. BRAVO!! Procedures are important, but don’t forget the “human” in “human resources.” I will tell you that HR failures in this regard have given me leverage many, many times to (a) negotiate far larger severance packages, (b) win larger jury awards in court, and (c) at times, see HR executives’ careers suffer afterwards. The other perspective is the key to your work; I preach that, as well, to my clients in how to successfully deal with HR. It’s the key to all “negotiation,” using that word in its broadest perspective. My blog, SkloverWorkingWisdom.com preaches that daily. Like I said, I am a visitor from “the other side.” Consider travelling over to “our side,” for a different and perhaps startling view of things. I really do enjoy your blog, and enjoy your “evil-ness.”
Best, Al Sklover

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:02:00 +0000

And why again wasn't' this researched BEFORE the employee began work?

Check your state laws about whether this is technically a guilty plea. If so, terminate.

By: Breanne

Breanne — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:12:00 +0000

Fascinating. I would generally agree with Evil HOUR Lady. Fire them if the issue is clear and it is a lie. However, states have funny rules for deferred felonies. What was the conviction and how long ago was it? Was it a DUI in the 80’s or stalking last year. Context helps. Usually I am pretty black and white on issues like this…but this sounds sticky.

By: jmm43

jmm43 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:40:00 +0000

I don’t know how deferment/abeyance agreements work in your state, but where I practice they do not count as a conviction, and are actually listed on the records as dismissals.

By: Still learning

Still learning — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:17:00 +0000

Well, the lie pertains to the “Have you ever been convicted of, plead guilty/no contest to a crime?” question on our application. We verified the information in public records; it is listed as a felony, deferred. However, if the applicant entered a guilty plea, should the answer to that question still have been yes? By the way, (and this might seem incredible) he volunteered the information to another employee).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:27:00 +0000

Yeah how dare applicants lie…lying is reserved for HR, Recruiters, Executives, and our government.

By: The Engineer

The Engineer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:49:00 +0000

If you can confirm that the lie is really a lie then it shouldn't matter how you found out.

@ Helen and Evil
This is the discussion that really needed to follow the one about recruiters. There is more to the hiring process than the background check (or the job posting, or interview questions). That is the whole reason for a "probationary period." But that involves others in the company and those others often like to blame someone else for their mistakes. HR is a separate department and very involved with the process. Ergo, an easy way to place the blame.

By: Evil HR Lady

Evil HR Lady — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Why oh why wouldn’t they do a technical interview? I know–the manager didn’t want to admit he didn’t know how to hire. Grrrr. We hired you to manage, not to do the work, so if you don’t understand everything, fine, but make sure you have someone who does understand asking questions.

Grrr. Stupid people annoy me.