MDN Inc. is considering two employees for the job of senior manager. An internal candidate, Julie, has been with MDN for 12 years and received very good performance evaluations. The other candidate, Raoul, works for a competitor, and has valuable experience in the product market into which MDN wishes to expand. Do you think MDN has an obligation to hire Julie? Why or why not?
Sample Answer
This is a classic ethical and strategic dilemma in human resources, and there's no single "right" answer. MDN Inc. does not have an absolute, legally binding obligation to hire Julie, but they do have several moral, ethical, and practical considerations that create a strong imperative to evaluate her candidacy fairly and thoughtfully.
Let's break down why:
Arguments FOR an Obligation (or Strong Consideration) to Julie:
Loyalty and Employee Morale:
- Internal Equity: Julie has dedicated 12 years of her career to MDN Inc., consistently performing well. Bypassing a long-term, high-performing internal candidate for an external hire, especially without a compelling and clearly communicated reason, can severely damage morale among the existing workforce. It sends a message that loyalty and hard work within the company are not sufficiently valued or rewarded.
- Motivation and Retention: Other employees might see this as a sign that their own career advancement within MDN is limited, leading to disengagement or even looking for opportunities elsewhere. This could result in a "brain drain" of valuable institutional knowledge.This is a classic ethical and strategic dilemma in human resources, and there's no single "right" answer. MDN Inc. does not have an absolute, legally binding obligation to hire Julie, but they do have several moral, ethical, and practical considerations that create a strong imperative to evaluate her candidacy fairly and thoughtfully.