2018 was the year to “Ask HR.”
In a special addition to its coverage of careers, USA TODAY invited Society for Human Resource Management’s President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. to be its “HR expert” by authoring a weekly column about the workplace.
Readers responded with many questions on topics ranging from asking for raise to dealing with office gossip to talking about politics at work.
SHRM also heard directly from readers, who asked additional questions and expressed their thanks for a column that helped them better understand HR and various workplace issues.
The column continues in 2019 with upcoming questions about inclusion, paid time off and HR as a career, and more.
Read Taylor's "Ask HR" columns from this past year:
December
- Can your employer require you to come into work in inclement weather? (12/17/18)
- Do I need to attend the office holiday party? Should I give my boss a gift? (12/10/18)
- Workplaces are evolving to meet future demands (12/4/18)
November
- How do today’s workplaces need to change to meet the future? (11/27/18)
- What should I write when a job application asks for a salary preference? (11/20/18)
- Internships on your resume could help set you apart (11/13/18)
- You can fight incivility at work after the elections (11/6/18)
October
- What should I do if there’s no HR? Should employers offer paid time off to vote? (10/30/18)
- I may want to start my career over. When is someone too old for an internship? (10/23/18)
- How does someone with a food allergy handle the workplace? How to handle office noises. (10/16/18)
- Some Insights on the #MeToo movement and harassment in the workplace (10/9/18)
- Advice to job-seekers and employers on the pitfalls of counteroffers (10/2/18)
September
- Can I be fired with no warning? When do I have to tell a boss that I'm pregnant? (9/25/18)
- Military reserve status does not need to be disclosed to potential employer (9/18/18)
- What can a potential employer ask a former employer? How about a health condition? (9/11/18)
- A criminal record should not automatically be an employment disqualifier (9/4/18)
August
- Paying for co-worker’s drug rehab creates resentment (8/28/18)
- Can a company require a college degree to advance to a management position? (8/21/18)
- Is it OK to leave a new job after just 1 year? (8/14/18)
- ‘Ghosting’ a job applicant or a potential employer is unprofessional (8/7/18)
July
- Is what you discuss with HR confidential? What are exit interviews for? (7/31/18)
- Employer policies of visible arm tattoos and breast milk production get questioned (7/24/18)
- How can I get my company to start offering more interesting perks? (7/17/18)
- My company wants a health risk assessment. What will it be used for? (7/10/18)
- Can I be fired for attending a protest or speaking up publicly about politics? (7/3/18)
June
- I have to monitor email accounts of former exec. Some are sexually offensive. What do I do? (6/26/18)
- What can you do about workplace vulgarity? And how many work hours is too many? (6/19/18)
- How do you handle staff who abuse sick days? Can employers police social media? (6/12/18)
- My boss makes me feel guilty when I ask for vacation time. What can I do? (6/5/18)
May
- Forced into Manager Role; Are Servers Liable for 'Dine and Dash' Customers? (5/29/18)
- How to adjust from an office to cubicle; where can a small business find workers? (5/22/18)
- Is ‘dumbing down’ your resume a good idea? Is asking for Social Security # legal? (5/15/18)
- I think my co-workers are gossiping about my incontinence. And does my high school graduation date matter? (5/8/18)
- Can my boss require me to find a substitute for days I'm sick or taking a holiday? (5/1/18)
April
- My boss wants me to share personal info on company's social media. Can I refuse? (4/24/18)
- My boss embarrassed me. What do I do? And should parental leave by gender-blind? (4/17/18)
- How do I ask for a raise? And what to do about ageism (4/10/18)
- My manager canceled lunch breaks. Also, should I give more than 2-weeks’ notice for retirement? (4/3/18)
March
- Tell the truth about dating at work. Also, can employers set smartphone rules? (3/27/18)
- If pot is legal, can employees still get in trouble? Also, what to do when a peer becomes your boss (3/20/18)
- My female boss jokingly called me a 'slut.' Also, do I have to answer salary questions? (3/13/18)
January
- 2
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