CHOICES II-7 - Impediments to Acceptance 1F

Robin Cunningham Living With It Advocate and Executive Robin Cunningham holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the... Send Message Subscribe: Robin Cunningham

Sunday, November 16, 2008
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I'm pleased to report that Carolyn [DCROY9633], Chris [UK], and David Peek {UK] all responded to my blog last week about "Deliberate Ignorance." Carolyn's observations once again were astute. Chris wrote and dedicated a new blog to me [which blows me away]! David is new to S...

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New Hire
jjbgeneva
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 02:36 PM

I would discuss the 2 candidates with my boss. All things being somewhat equal; he may be quite knowledgable about mental illness or have a strong negative bias. Some of the world's most creative & successful people have lived with mental illness. Both can do the job but one could contribute more to your own success. Regards; Jim Blaha

re: New Hire
Robin Cunningham
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 10:44 PM

Jim:

Your suggestion is a terrific one. As you indicate, discussing the two Applicants with your boss is an excellent way of determining what his feelings are and increases the probability that each candidate will have a complete hearing. [If I were your boss, I would consider interviewing the two Applicants myself.] It also opts your boss into the whatever decision is made. If your boss rejects Applicant A, then at least you have done all you can. If he selects Applicant A, you have an implicit representation that he will be prepared to grant accomodations if required.

You sound like a good CEO to me.

Thank you for your reply.

[What about you other readers out there. Do you agree or disagree? Do you have anything to add? Do you have a different idea?]

Robin

Hiring New People
Don Fraser
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 09:38 AM

Hi Robin, I like Jim's idea . But here's a twist: suppose the company is sympathetic toward the disabled and is more likely to hire candidate A because he has schizophrenia. I know this may sound contrived or far-fetched but in the community where I live it actually does happen. It's almost like years ago when it was deemed to be appropriate to have a man of colour working for you.

Best wishes,

Don Fraser

re: Hiring New People
Robin Cunningham
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 11:18 AM

Hi Don:

You've introduced a whole new set of questions and considerations, which is good. These complicate the hiring problem I posed by bringing into the hypothetical situation one more dose of reality.

It is extraordinary that your community has a tendancy or penchant for hiring individuals with a mental illness. [I assume consumers are readily available.] But I've got a question for you. Do the consumers hired get paid the same rate as their "sane" fellow workers?" This question may sound cynical, but I have a reason for asking.

Ooops. I'm out of space. I'll present your situation in my next blog and include an answer to my "cynical" question.

I'll talk with you about this on my next Sunday blog.

Robin

Not so simple??... competition the key
Chris
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 05:42 AM

Hello Robin,

You asked for more responses so here goes..

Find this question poses quite a philosophical puzzle, although as you say it must be a common enough practical scenario. Maybe things are not as simple as they seem.

Can I throw these Qs into the melting pot? ( Non expert :From someone who has only worked in a sevice industry..Ah, thoughts for another post here...)

As a employer in a competitive business, with both personal advancement and the firm's success presumably behind decision making I (the hirer) would be wondering WHY candidate A CHOSE to disclose, and at the last competitive hurdle too? (What does this say about his personality (not his sz)??

A feeling that in a hard nosed business field he might tend to 'give' to persuasive competitors perhaps. If he mentioned adjustments he might require in the work structure that might better explain why he volunteered this info 'for free'. Like choosing to show one's hand when playing cards. A submissive gesture?

Finally there is no evidence that candidate B does not also have sz or similar, but has chosen not to disclose!!! (Different personality traits, probably the competitive Type A go getter,chosing this setting and time as being inappropriate to disclose .)

The creativity issue is interesting, but could presumably be checked out in other interview techniques to distinguish between the candidates.

Just my own thoughts expressed.

Chris,

UK

Oops.. competition the key PS correction
Chris
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 06:03 AM

Sorry My post might be confusing. The comment about 'showing his hand' was supposed to run straight after Why did he chose?, not following after the suggestion that might have need for some work adjustment, and so it just might be logical to disclose. Hope I cause no offence.

Chris

re: Oops.. competition the key PS correction
Robin Cunningham
Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 05:01 PM

Chris:

I figured it out. No offense taken. You questions are excellent. Keep them coming.

Robin

re: Not so simple??... competition the key
Robin Cunningham
Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 05:12 PM

Chris:

I've been on the go since the 18th and just now picked up your excellent comments.

You reply intoduces even more reality into my "hypothetical' hiring scenario.

I'm just finishing my blog for tomorrow the 23rd. After that's finished, I'll give your comments the complete response they deserve in the form of a reply to your reply.

If it is alright with you, I'd like to introduce some of the issues you have raised into my blog for next week, Sunday, 30 November.

This discussion gets more and more inteesting as we go.

Robin