HR The Series

Summer Internships: Would You Work for Free With a Boat Load of Debt?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:20:55 +0000

Take heed, young workers of America.The season of the summer internship is upon us.
For some of you out there who are pursuing them, or long ago paid your debts to the game, the very concept is a mixed bag.
True, they provide on-the-job training. Some students have no choice but to participate in degree related internships for curriculum requirements; others do it purely for career experience and connections.
No matter the reason, one thing is certain; when internships conclude, there’s always a story to be told: mercurial hours, horrendous bosses, coffee-fetching or even that actual employee threatened by your mere presence. I’ll never forget hearing about a time one of our motley crew was asked to go on a date with a boss’s friend as part of the experience. One word: Eew.
But back to the matter: It seems the days may be numbered for this rite of passage. There’s been recent speculation over whether internships are even ethical. Working for free has begun to rankle internship seekers who may no longer have the guarantee of some kind of job at the end of their diploma.
Why work for free during the summer when you’re part of a generation buried in student loans? (Side note: Student loan debt has surpassed the $1 trillion mark, more than the nation’s credit card debt, according to usatoday.com)
Let HR the Series know how you look at internships. Are they worth the abuse, time, energy, and lack of money? Tell us some of your stories and how these experiences have helped you in your career adventures. Or if you’re looking for an internship, tell us your criteria.
In short: Would you work for free for the right opportunity?

By LT “The Intern”

Do You Work Through Lunch? McDonald’s Wants You to Stop…And Smell the Big Macs

admin — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:34:28 +0000

Watching what we eat and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle is, at times, overshadowed by our increasingly busy work schedules. Enter McDonald’s. promoting itself as the premier lunch option for 9-5ers, underscoring the effort with a funny ad campaign.

First the campaign approach, ‘cuz that’s the amusing part.

It uses slogans such as, “Say no to crumbs on the keyboard,” and “It’s your lunch, Take it,” McDonalds’ Facebook page is offering videos to support its new campaign warning, “Don’t be chicken.” The videos feature actors in office settings who bravely decide to curb the desk-dining monotony and head to McDonald’s for their highly anticipated lunch break.

The new “Lunch Manifesto” expounds on eating beef, asking for example, if one has, “beef with noon meetings.” The campaign, primarily visible on Facebook, aims to target the working class, who surreptitiously, spend more time on the social media site than creating monthly business reports.

McDonald’s distinctive effort to reach all audiences is commendable. They have captivated audiences from: the tiniest chicken-nugget-lover with plastic trinkets, to the Southerner with sweet tea and specialty sandwiches. Subway has surpassed McDonald’s as the world’s largest fast food series according to newser.com. It’s fascinating to note, their fighting efforts to bring in new customers has now reached the work place food chain.

So what do you think? Is McDonald’s enticing you with its lure to dine outside your cube? Secondly, if you do escape the office, would you spend that precious time at Mickey D’s? We, at HR the Series, would love to know! So please do weigh in below… bonus points if you share what you’re eating for lunch!

Episode 11: “Exit Interview”

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:37:27 +0000

Richard Marshall’s leadership lands his fellow employees in a decidedly different predicament. We finally find out what happens to our “human resources.”

Episode 10: “Out of Office”

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:11:48 +0000

Steele employees are treated to a cosmic“corporate retreat.” Richard must step up as a leader if there is any hope for his former co-workers-turned-abductees.

Episode 9: “Help Wanted”

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:08:57 +0000

Employees aren’t as enthused about Richard and Malguster’s ESC plan. Things get hectic as the invaders step up their efforts.

Episode 8: “Foiled Again”

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:24:56 +0000

Richard and Malguster confront Steven Steele about at least one way to save the entire staff from being sucked into the stars.

Episode 7: “BLAMO!”

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:09:59 +0000

Malguster’s attempt to draw out the invaders meets with potentially devastating results for him and Richard. Cherie runs further afoul of Steven Steele, as the other executives becoming increasingly panicked.

Episode 6: “10%”

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:31:19 +0000

The executives and Steven Steele remain sequestered in the “War Room,” finally uncovering a disturbing pattern in the employee disappearances.

2011 Annual Review, Celeb Style: Occupational Hazards

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:18:39 +0000

Raise your hand if you enjoy annual performance reviews.

Hmmm…just what we thought. Who on earth wants to be taken into a conference room and treated to the corporate version of Festivus … having their flaws (and modest triumphs) condensed into a manila folder?

But guess what…it’s much more fun to give than to receive performance reviews. That’s why we at “Human Resources” are evaluating the on-the-job antics of the biggest pop figures, celebrity and otherwise over the past year. Check out today’s entry. We’ll be doing a different category every day this week. Stay tuned and definitely pile on.
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Turn On the Lights
The mega-budgeted “Turn Off the Dark” production has been fraught with disaster since it’s preview period this year. Every day it seemed like another actor was injured. Our only question is: What’s the workman’s comp fund looking like?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg338DxH7v8

Exit Stage Right
Rihanna, Kanye, Evanescence and even the venerable Jimmy Buffet ate it during performances, reminding us all that you are never to rich to bust your arse. Check out one of our fave spills right here:

Walk like an Egyptian
Anderson Cooper is a silver fox, but he might want to watch it acting all Indiana Jones when on-assignment. Our dude got mollywhopped while covering anti-Mubarak protesters in February. He and his crew got two-pieced by pro-Mubarak crowds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdLhuEzrSvA

HR Returns With New Episodes On Jan 3
Come back for the next section of our annual review every day this week, and catch up on our series here (Episodes 1-4). New episode hits Jan.3.

2011 Performance Review: Teamwork/Gets Along with Coworkers

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:03:41 +0000

Aw yeah, HR the Series pop culture performance review continues.

Last week, we focused on peeps who were prone to occupational hazards. And now…. Check out how celebs and public figures deal with working together in a teamwork setting it. (Spoiler alert) For the sake of some of these folks, including James Franco and NeNe Leakes, we hope their raises aren’t dependent on it.

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Franco, My Dear, I Don’t Give a Damn
James Franco had Anne Hathaway looking a dang fool at the Oscars with his uninspired, dead-eyed on-camera appearance. The plucky Hathaway kept giving her all to the poorly written skits and sketches, dragging Franco along for the ride a la Weekend at Bernies. We hope he has apologized for his antics because God knows he will never be onstage at the Oscars again unless he is accepting one.

Globe Trotter
Ricky Gervais turned the Golden Globes into a roast with pointed barbs at celebrities including Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and pretty much accused the Hollywood Foreign Press of accepting bribes. Gervais was unrepentant, despite admonitions from attendees including America’s Mister Nice Guy, Tom Hanks.

A Star is Warned
Nene Leakes isn’t known for making nice, and her “Real Housewives of Atlanta” attitude preceded her to the set of “Celebrity Apprentice.” But few probably expected a clash of the titans-level standoff between Star Jones and Leakes. Their verbal feuding nearly gave way to a beatdown, but we’re sure The Donald pulled them aside and whispered: “Ladies, don’t take it too far. This ain’t ‘Basketball Wives.’”