Reports the results of a survey of personnel directors from a variety of businesses on the factors of job performance appraisals and their common weaknesses. Offers recommendations for appraisal writing, including goals, content, audience analysis, style, and potential legal problems. (HTH)

Personnel directors (N=34) responded to a mailed adjective checklist describing the ideal secretary. This list contained eight adjectives cxorresponding to each of Holland's six vocationally-related personality traits (Realistic, Social, Investigative, Enterprising, Conventional, and Artistic) and eight feminine and eight masculine adjectives from…

A study was undertaken to determine if the spelling preferences of chief executives of corporations were reflected in the views of their personnel directors in their consideration of employment applications. Fifty-two high-level executives in business and industry responded to a questionnaire concerning their preferences for standard or reformed…

Presents evidence of welfare activity in a number of work organizations based in Scotland that have introduced recovery programs for employees with alcohol-related problems. The study points to extensive involvement by personnel specialists in the operation of these policies. (CT)

Responses from 446 of 1,283 public agency personnel directors showed that 40% had ethical dilemmas when 2-career couples were employed in the same agency. Most prohibited only supervisory relationships between spouses and offered employment assistance. Reform of the merit system may be needed to stay competitive in the face of this demographic…

Examined characteristics of drug-testing programs that were associated with personnel managers' judgments of the programs' effectiveness using data gathered from human resource managers (N=190). Results showed drug-testing programs considered to be effective were supported by ancillary activities (such as employee assistance programs), targeted…

Compares the judgment of students and personnel professionals regarding four distinct methods of resume reproduction. Finds a modest difference, students showing slightly more tolerance for poorly reproduced copies. (MS)

Reports results of a survey of Fortune 500 personnel administrators' preferences for the content of resumes submitted by college students entering the job market. Concludes that textbooks, teachers, and applicants should not only include but stress this preferred content. (PD)

Describes a study in which selected employers and personnel directors were interviewed concerning the effects of employees' home lives on work. Areas explored included employee behaviors affected by their home lives; company policies created because of employees' home lives; and the effects of different family life stages on work. (CT)

Examines methods used to search for entry-level managerial positions and assesses how human resource and personnel directors in Georgia perceive these methods. Findings indicate that few of the directors use electronic technology to fill such positions, but they view positively those applicants who use electronic job searching methods. (RJM)

Reports on a survey of chief human resources officers in the Fortune 500. Focuses on areas such as applicant's appearance; beginning of the interview; conduct of the interview; and closing the interview. Compares results with a similar 1980 survey. (JAD)

Researchers who have focused on issues of interpersonal communication in organizations have concluded that it is an essential component of organizational life. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the communicator image of human-resource managers. A survey instrument called the Norton Communicator Style Measure (CSM) was sent to…

A survey of 62 academic library appointees new to the profession (1995-96) investigated the perceived importance of 46 resume items. Resume items were ranked according to importance and compared with rankings in Thomas M. Gaughan's (1980) survey of personnel officers in research libraries. Considerable overlap between surveys suggested more…

Examined how personnel managers (N=19) and line managers (N=28) make disciplinary decisions using policy-capturing approach. Findings suggested that factors likely to affect attributions about reason for a disciplinary problem were important determinants of disciplinary decisions. Considerable weight was assigned to either provocation, tenure, or…

A survey of 300 public agency personnel directors received 208 responses indicating that 65 percent have substance abuse policies, 66 percent of those test applicants. Most agencies that test employees verify positive results with a second test before disciplinary action; 85 percent have employee assistance programs. Personnel directors' attitudes…