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An interesting situation and I've read all the posts on the list thus
far.
Years ago I worked for a large firm that specialized in commercial and
multi use real estate. We had a pretty big IT department, including 3
full time trainers and 4 full time writers. I worked numerous projects
with my ideological opposite. We both knew where each other stood on
the political spectrum and we'd have many heated discussions, but always
knew when to pull back. Both of us came on board with the company
around the same time.
As many people have already stated, it is highly unethical to deny the
candidate a position because of his/her political views. And if you
actually gave that as a reason to the candidate, I'm certain there's a
lawyer somewhere who would have a field day.
You can, however, state that the candidate is not a good fit. The
candidate is qualified, but the group doesn't feel the candidate will
fit in with the group, corporate culture, whatever. And if it was the
candidate who brought up politics at lunch, all the more reason to use
non-fit.
All that being said, gut reactions are usually telling. Who knows?
Maybe the candidate felt as uncomfortable with the group's political
leanings as the group did with the candidate's.
Personally, I wouldn't hire someone I didn't think I could get along
with, someone I thought wouldn't fit in with the rest of my co-workers.
Just my opinion.
Jan Arnopolin
Technical Writer
Thomson Elite
Phone: 312.873.6784
Fax: 312.873.6801
www.hubbardone.com
jan -dot- arnopolin -at- thomson -dot- com
Hubbard One, a Thomson Elite business
-----Original Message-----
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On Behalf Of TECHWR-L Administrator
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:42 AM
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Subject: FWD: Employment question
Forwarded anonymously on request. Please respond on list--
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We are a five person documentation group at a mid-sized company. I
started here as a lone writer eight years back. The team grew to its
current size, over the years as the need arose. Though I have the final
say in the selection of a new writer, the team members are involved in
the screening and interviewing process, and the final decision is a
consensus.
We are a pretty close-knit team, and fit in together well. Though each
writer works on individual books and products, the rest of the team
pitches in whenever necessary, like in a crunch at release time or when
some one needs time-off with a scheduled release coming up. Our regular
table in the cafeteria is called the Doc Table where people stop by to
chat us up. Of course, we do enjoy our private jokes about the rest of
the company... :-)
Now we are in need of another writer and have been going through a round
of interviewing. Been a bit frustrating till we found the ideal
candidate. Articulate, good language skills, in-depth knowledge in our
technologies, friendly nature... The interviewing team were exchanging
gratified smiles till we took the candidate for lunch.
The contrast in views couldn't have been any greater. And the person was
not the least bit reluctant to express them either. Like it was a given
that no one could ever disagree with those opinions. (Did I tell you our
team all fall into the same side of the political spectrum?) The visible
strain the team was under to keep the situation from sliding to an Al
Franken date with Ann Coulter would have made me smile if I was not
under the same strain.
The question is, would it be ethical to deny employment to a person
(otherwise eminently qualified) based on his/her political views, though
the real reason is never mentioned? On the other hand, is a new person
(however well qualified) worth the possible disruption (97% possibility)
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