HRBlunders.com » jerks http://www.hrblunders.com The worst mistakes, catastrophes, and near-misses Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:18:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Could your handbook use some more profanity? http://www.hrblunders.com/could-your-handbook-use-some-more-profanity/ http://www.hrblunders.com/could-your-handbook-use-some-more-profanity/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:00:59 +0000 Sam Narisi http://www.hrblunders.com/?p=1589 No one likes working with a jerk. But here’s a company that’s taking serious measures to keep them away.

New hires at SuccessFactors, a software firm based in San Mateo, CA, are required to sign off on a list of 15 corporate principles.

Number 15: “I will not be an a–hole.”

CEO Lars Dalgaard implemented that policy after years of corporate experience taught him that jerks (as we’ll call them) “stifle performance,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle.

As for the harsh language, he said the rule would be easier to ignore without it.

What also makes the rule tough to ignore is that Dalgaard isn’t afraid to enforce it. One time, he took a group of job candidates out to lunch at a local restaurant. Those who weren’t friendly to the waitstaff weren’t brought back to continue the interview process.

Ever worked at a company that needed a policy on jerks? Do you think a rule like Dalgaard’s is good for a company or just an impractical gimmick? Let us know your opinion in the comments section.

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