Jefferson Miller is a freelance illustrator and designer based in Sacramento, CA. You may recognize his retro-inspired cartoon style on beer cans, comics, books (like the A Small Fiction book) and event posters. See more of his artwork on his website jeffersonmiller.com and on Instagram:@artofjefferson
By this person
Dilemma of the Month: Am I Too Aggressive, or Is My Accuser Being Sexist?
“After working in HR for 30 years, I was told today that I was
‘too aggressive’ and that I came across as if I had an
agenda. I have never had someone say this to me before…” Is he
right? Evil HR Lady weighs in.
Dilemma of the Month: How Do I Deal With a Micromanager?
Boss always looking over your shoulder? Evil HR Lady says
they may be a control freak, or it could be due
to poor performance on your end. Here’s how to move
forward.
Dilemma of the Month: How Do I Respond to Requests for References?
Evil HR Lady explains the difference between a background check
and a reference check, and why employers don’t need to answer
every question.
Dilemma of the Month: What’s Wrong With an Open-Concept Office?
Evil HR Lady says you can’t hold FMLA or ADA against an employee,
but you can still hold them accountable for their work when they
are there.
Dilemma of the Month: Can I Fire an Employee on Medical Leave?
Evil HR Lady says you can’t hold FMLA or ADA against an employee,
but you can still hold them accountable for their work when they
are there.
Dilemma of the Month: Can the Boss Take Zoom Calls in the Shower?
Obviously, no. But getting him to behave may require an
attorney.
Dilemma of the Month: Can Someone Work Two Full-Time Jobs?
Evil HR Lady says it’s a fine line for hourly employees, but
it’s not illegal.
Dilemma of the Month: How Do I Document an Employee’s Unethical Behavior?
Evil HR Lady explains why objective documentation is key when it
comes to “toxic” employees.
Dilemma of the Month: Why Is My Coworker So Grumpy?
When does being a jerk become breaking the law? Evil HR Lady
tackles this question and more.
Dilemma of the Month: Does the Fair Chance Act Mean I Have to Hire Criminals?
Evil HR Lady shares how to protect employees while following California’s new law.
Dilemma of the Month: What Happens When a Leader Gets Demoted?
I have an employee, Jeff, who is high up in his role at a very large company. He is among the top leaders of the organization. However, he is being slightly demoted due to his behavior and inability to meet the expectations of the role.
Dilemma of the Month: What Should I Do About My Boss’s Memory Loss?
Our new CEO has been at our nonprofit for approximately six months. As the director of HR, the vice presidents and I went to our board with concerns regarding our new leader and his memory issues. He can’t remember the decisions he makes. I know there’s such a thing as a fitness-for-duty test, but these are usually centered around physical fitness. Where do I go from here?
Dilemma of the Month: Should WFH or WIO workers get paid more?
I have a weird problem. We have some jobs that can be done
remotely, and some must be done on-site. Several employees who
can work remotely moved during the pandemic, so they couldn’t
come in without moving back. But the problem is that both the WFH
(work from home) and the WIO (work in office) think they deserve
salary increases because of their working conditions.
Dilemma of the Month: Can My Boss Hold ‘Boys Only’ Work Events?
I currently work for a small mom-and-pop company of only 11
employees, including the owners. The owners are husband and wife,
65 and 75 years old. The co-owner (husband) keeps having
“boys only” events, such as weekly happy hours and trips on his
boats; women are not invited.
Dilemma of the Month: Can a Manager Be Paid Less Than Her Direct Report?
A brand-new HR director discovers that an employee earns
$13K more than her director, who oversees a team of 10. What
should she do after the manager requests a pay increase?
Dilemma of the Month: Can I Fire an Intern?
What do you do when an intern isn’t working out? Well, with an employee, you’d probably put them on a performance improvement plan and tell them to shape up or ship out. But should you be so harsh with the intern? The answer: Yes, with caution.
Dilemma of the Month: How Do I Get People to Do Their HR Tasks?
People often neglect the HR aspects of their jobs, even failing to take these tasks seriously. From one HR pro to another, Evil HR Lady tells how to rally employees and coax leadership onboard — and when to let it go.
Unlocking Reality
As technology evolves, regional entrepreneurs look to unlock the possibilities of augmented reality
Unlike virtual reality, which immerses users in an artificial environment, augmented reality superimposes information in the real world. This information can take the form of graphics, text, audio and other sensory inputs to enhance one’s experience.
Dilemma of the Month: How Can I Move Up in My Company?
A newcomer inquires how to get ahead and advance in their field. Evil HR Lady offers advice for how to become valuable to coworkers and bosses, and how to identify a mentor.
Dilemma of the Month: What Are Managers Supposed to Do, Anyway?
People get promoted to management roles because they are good at doing the work, but managing the work is nothing like doing the work, Evil HR Lady says. Here are three things new managers should know.
Dilemma of the Month: Why Do My Employees Feel Picked On?
A manager who follows the adage ”praise in public, punish in private” is finding that employees are starting to feel singled out for their bad behavior. Evil HR Lady offers some advice on how and when to dole out feedback.
Dilemma of the Month: How Can I Help an Employee With Anxiety and PTSD?
When an employee has a PTSD episode in the break room, an employer wonders if and how to offer help. Evil HR Lady advises how to verify a disability and reviews issues of accommodation and confidentiality.
Dilemma of the Month: How Can I Change a Company’s Racist Culture?
As a human resources professional, you can’t eradicate people’s racist thoughts. But, Evil HR Lady asserts, you can change the company culture so people know that they cannot get away with harassment.
Dilemma of the Month: Is the Customer Really Always Right?
The customer is not always right — and is sometimes profoundly wrong. Evil HR Lady presents the moral and legal obligations employers have to their employees if a customer harasses them.
Dilemma of the Month: How Do You Document Harassment Without Getting Yourself in Hot Water?
HR people often advise victims of harassment to “just document everything!” without explaining how to go about it. Here’s a quick guide to what you need to do when you’re documenting harassment.
Dilemma of the Month: What should I do with an employee who won’t stop complaining?
A manager frustrated with an employee who frequently complains wonders if the problem lies with their management style, the team or the employee. Evil HR Lady offers perspective and potential solutions.