The county gives major support to the ageny, and they require you to hire an accountant who can keep the financial records and report to them on how the agency spends its money. You review candidates, and Ms. A seems the best qualified. But the county auditor insists that Mr. B should be hired. You review his application, and conclude that Ms. A is far more qualified. The auditor insists, and swears he will cut your agency's funding in half if you do not hire Mr. B. The grapevine tells you Mr. B is the county treasurer's nephew.
Who would you hire and why?
2007-11-26 23:56:25 · 16 answers · asked by auntb93 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not in this situation. It is a hypothetical adapted from "Ethics for Everyone" by Arthur Dobrin.
2007-11-27 00:19:13 · update #1
I would verify the relationship and take the issue before the county commission meeting. This is a disciplinary issue that should be handled. Corruption in any form is damaging to society and the county in particular. It should be discussed in the bright light of day and not behind closed doors. Further, the basis for agency funding should be brought out in the open and be permitted to be a political issue. Be sure to invite the press.
2007-11-27 00:03:03 · answer #1 · answered by OPM 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hire the most qualified candidate. If there are any problems later, make sure you have evidence supporting the reasons you hired A over B. Also, be sure you have evidence to support your claim that the county auditor is unjustly attempting to influence who gets hired. It is the auditor that is in the wrong. Don't worry about the funding. Perhaps it would be better to look for funding from another source.
Nepotism is a big problem in all governmental jobs. The county I live in is still having to deal with problems certain people made by hiring their relations. Even had to get the Federal investigators involved.
2007-11-27 00:07:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
How big is the budget that is going to be cut in half ? Enough to justifying hiring of the nephew ?
If the funding is only 10k , then maybe the auditor can keep his 5k . If the funding is 1 million , then it is not such a good idea to lose 500k for the Charity .
I do not see this as an ethical issue but a practical issue.
I would assume there would be long term ramifications for not hiring the Nephew . If you hired the good guy , you should look for a new job and the auditor could bring in the nephew after you leave.
btw : Why are you asking this question in the R & S category ? I don't see anything Religious nor spiritual about it .
2007-11-27 00:14:13 · answer #3 · answered by londonpeter2003 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Before I hire anyone, I would report the county treasurer. I would tell everything that was going on, word for word just as you have already done here. Once the complaint was down on paper and put into record, I would hire Ms. A. If after hiring Ms. A, the county treasurer tries to make good his threat, I would inform him of the complaint already been made, then I would go and report him again. Hopefully, he won't be in office for you to make a third report on him, or even better, for the second one to be needed.
2007-11-27 00:50:07 · answer #4 · answered by BlueManticore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before I made the announcement of WHO would get the position, I would approach the County Administrator about this and inform him/her of your intention to hire the most qualifed candidate. If the administraotr tells you to go with B then inform the auditor that the auditing needs to be diligent and thorough on THEIR part. Document EVERYTHING to do with the hiring of B. If problems arise, bring everything to the attention of the County Attorney, immediately.
You can ALSO take this course of action. Take the County Auditors pressure directly to the County Attorney and seek his/her counsel on the protocol to follow. Get everything in writing and store it in a safe place. If things turn bad over the issue then take that documentatin directly to the County Board of Commisioners AND the press, at the same time. Always remember, CYA is ALWAYS the rule of the day in government administration. (CYA = Cover Your A**)
BB,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-11-27 01:38:03 · answer #5 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would report this to the Executive Director of the agency (your boss) and also to any County Government Officials of which you have a close relationship.
What the auditor threatened is unethical and maybe even illegal.
I would pursue all other remedies at my disposal first. If necessary, I would quit before I would hire someone out of political pressure, then go to the newspaper with your story.
2007-11-27 00:08:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hire A and tell the county auditor to pray dear.
2007-11-27 01:01:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ms. A but before I hire them I would bring it to someones attention like the press and the other authorities. Cause all Mr. B is going to do is mess sh*t up and you are going to have to fix it so hire the right person the first time.
2007-11-27 00:08:22 · answer #8 · answered by calmlikeatimebomb 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The county auditor is not "the boss", therefore s/he works for someone else ... I'd send a letter forewarning the auditor's intentions to the auditor's boss.
I'd also hire A.
2007-11-27 00:04:35 · answer #9 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would do what is right first of all. As far as someone abusing power on me so be it, show no anger and do nothing and he will fall upon himself. Or as most people handle it get a record and get him fired. I let people work out their own demons.
Or double my funding NOW, as you will reverse the post of what he or she is doing to you. Than hire both if applicable ha!
2007-11-27 00:33:21 · answer #10 · answered by יונתן 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋