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I actually welcome conversation from people with opinions differing from
mine. I feel it's the only way to truly appreciate if indeed I have the
right opinions.
Debating differing opinions requires good communication skills. It's
necessary to organize your thoughts and present them in a logical, rational
matter. It requires skills that we use in our jobs everyday.
Mind you, I'm a bit biased, being French-Canadian. What others refer to as
an argument, I tend to consider emotional debating!
Suzette Leeming
Stouffville, ON
On 6/26/07, Mike Starr <mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Two questions come to mind that haven't popped up in the responses so far:
>
> 1. Have you talked to the folks in the HR department? They can advise you
> on
> the legalities.
>
> 2. How superior was this candidate to your second choice? If this
> candidate
> was unquestionably superior in all ways, you as a manager should probably
> call the candidate in for a final interview and put it bluntly to the
> candidate that his/her viewpoint would be in the minority within the
> department and that you've already advised your team that from this point
> forward political discussions on company time are out of bounds. Then ask
> the candidate if he/she could respect and adhere to that restriction in
> the
> workplace. The candidate's answer will tell you if you should offer the
> candidate a job.
>
> I've worked any number of times with colleagues who have political
> viewpoints diametrically opposed to my own and I generally just keep my
> mouth shut and do my job. I can still be close friends with and work with
> someone I disagree with.
>
> Mike
> --
> Mike Starr WriteStarr Information Services
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>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Forwarded anonymously on request. Please respond on list--
>
> 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)
> to the sense of good will in the team?
>
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