HIRING AND FIRING FINDING THE RIGHT EMPLOYEES Michael B. Reid, PhD Dean, College of Health & Human Performance University of Florida

Ground Rules for This Talk Personal perspective Focus on lab personnel Generalizations Not comprehensive Exceptions guaranteed

Attracting the right people is essential for your success.

The Goal

Jeff Smith Brian Hardin Jen Moylan Laura Gilliam Leo Ferriera Missy Chambers

HIRING THE RIGHT EMPLOYEE

Hiring – Practical Considerations Funding Scientific goals Access to talent Need for diversity Preferred skills* Expected stability* Fit*

Hiring – Practical Considerations Funding Scientific goals Access to talent Need for diversity Preferred skills Expected stability ‘Fit’ So, what type of employee?

Hiring – PhD Students

Limitations inexperienced classroom duties obligation to train possible failure

Hiring – PhD Students Limitations inexperienced classroom duties obligation to train possible failure Strengths bright energetic institutional support present for years value to profession scientific legacies

Hiring – PhD Students Limitations inexperienced classroom duties obligation to train possible failure Strengths bright energetic institutional support present for years value to profession scientific legacies Recruitment graduate faculty status open vs. advisor admits referrals local undergrads

Hiring – Postdoctoral Fellows

Limitations limited applicant pool foreign candidates relatively expensive career preparation personal focus

Hiring – Postdoctoral Fellows Limitations limited applicant pool foreign candidates relatively expensive career preparation personal focus Strengths experienced mature can bring new skills committed ambitious

Hiring – Postdoctoral Fellows Limitations limited applicant pool foreign candidates relatively expensive career preparation personal focus Strengths experienced mature can bring new skills committed ambitious Recruitment local labs meetings & list serves advertising nontraditional routes

Hiring – Research Staff

Limitations ambition creative input expense

Hiring – Research Staff Limitations ambition creative input expense Strengths full-time research can remain for years assist with trainees institutional memory networking potential

Hiring – Research Staff Limitations ambition creative input expense Strengths full-time research can remain for years assist with trainees institutional memory networking potential Recruiting job description salary Human Resources Dept. advertising

Hiring – Short-Term Personnel

Limitations inexperienced science often secondary consume time & money brief tenure

Hiring – Short-Term Personnel Limitations inexperienced science often secondary consume time & money brief tenure Strengths many varieties small / no salary aim to please can become assets

Hiring – Short-Term Personnel Limitations inexperienced science often secondary consume time & money brief tenure Strengths many varieties small / no salary aim to please can become assets Recruiting undergrad programs professional schools high schools informal contacts

Hiring – Evaluating Candidates

curriculum vitae references interview (phone/Skype/in person) lab visit show respect for ALL candidates move promptly communicate clearly

Hiring – Closing the Deal

expectations salary hours start date limit time of offer alternative candidates know your options

Hiring – Closing the Deal expectations salary hours start date limit time of offer alternative candidates know your options Congratulations, Boss!

The Outcome

FIRING AND OTHER DEPARTURES

Departures – Various Causes

Not your decision employee moves on loss of funding

Departures – Various Causes Not your decision employee moves on loss of funding Your decision training complete poor performance you are departing

Departures – Stick to Basics

prepare for conversation with employee speak with thesis committee or HR follow institutional process respect training program guidelines honor union agreement

Departures – Take Responsibility safeguard YOUR data maintain momentum of project(s) minimize disruption in the lab facilitate transition of the employee

Hiring (and firing) well takes effort but few things are as important.

Acknowledgments R01 AR062083, R01 AR055974, and T32 HL We gratefully acknowledge the institutional support and extramural funding that made this research possible including:

Thanks!

Michael B. Reid, Ph.D. University of Florida Michael B. Reid, PhD is Professor of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology and Dean of the College of Health & Human Performance at the University of Florida. Dr. Reid is an established investigator whose research addresses the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie muscle weakness and fatigue. He has maintained an unbroken record of NIH funding for a quarter century and has published over 100 scientific articles. He is a consulting editor for Journal of Applied Physiology and serves on the editorial boards of Antioxidants & Redox Signaling and Skeletal Muscle.