Should you agree to disagree in the workplace?
September 29, 2010 6:09 PM Subscribe
When is it okay for your personal beliefs to directly contradict your line of work?
I work for a non-profit who does outreach and research for women seeking abortions. The organization and everyone who works there are all VERY pro-abortion. Currently we're interviewing candidates for an opening we have. One of the applicants we had has a very extensive past of anti-rights work (everything from homosexuality to immigrants) including a 5 year stint as a director of an anti-abortion group a few years ago. This person is also the only candidate with outreach experience. The person claims that she wants this job because "it's about the people and not the act." Based on that as well as her qualifications my boss wants to hire this person.
As a woman who had an abortion around a year ago (which my boss is aware of) I don't feel comfortable working with this person. I also had some other small problems with the interview (bad presentation skills, takes credit for others work, etc.), but I write that off to my own hostility and not lack of experience. Knowing how I feel, I don't understand how any other woman seeking an abortion could turn to my organization and ask for help if we hire her. Any client who Googles this person's name will be greeted with her activist history as the first 3 pages, so I am sure some of our clients will find out. I have voiced my opinion to my boss, but because I'm fairly low level my boss only offered me the options of working from home or quitting. Right now a private donor is paying for my Master's with the understanding that I will stay with this organization, so quitting doesn't feel like an option (I have spoken with the donor and he refuses to extend the offer if I quit).
I'm trying to find out if my best option is to either:
A) Bite the bullet and either deal with the office environment or work from home in order to keep my benefits
B) Find employment somewhere else
or
C) Something else?
I work for a non-profit who does outreach and research for women seeking abortions. The organization and everyone who works there are all VERY pro-abortion. Currently we're interviewing candidates for an opening we have. One of the applicants we had has a very extensive past of anti-rights work (everything from homosexuality to immigrants) including a 5 year stint as a director of an anti-abortion group a few years ago. This person is also the only candidate with outreach experience. The person claims that she wants this job because "it's about the people and not the act." Based on that as well as her qualifications my boss wants to hire this person.
As a woman who had an abortion around a year ago (which my boss is aware of) I don't feel comfortable working with this person. I also had some other small problems with the interview (bad presentation skills, takes credit for others work, etc.), but I write that off to my own hostility and not lack of experience. Knowing how I feel, I don't understand how any other woman seeking an abortion could turn to my organization and ask for help if we hire her. Any client who Googles this person's name will be greeted with her activist history as the first 3 pages, so I am sure some of our clients will find out. I have voiced my opinion to my boss, but because I'm fairly low level my boss only offered me the options of working from home or quitting. Right now a private donor is paying for my Master's with the understanding that I will stay with this organization, so quitting doesn't feel like an option (I have spoken with the donor and he refuses to extend the offer if I quit).
I'm trying to find out if my best option is to either:
A) Bite the bullet and either deal with the office environment or work from home in order to keep my benefits
B) Find employment somewhere else
or
C) Something else?
Working from home AND a paid Master's? That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If this woman has an open enough mind to take this job, maybe she will further change her mind after working with your clients. Or maybe she won't, and she'll embarrass herself in front of your donors, and she'll get the boot and everything will be back to the way it was. I'd stick it out and see what happens. You can always quit tomorrow.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:15 PM on September 29, 2010 [12 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:15 PM on September 29, 2010 [12 favorites]
Any particular reason you didn't jump at the chance to work from home?
And would you actually need to work with this person, or just in the same building? I've worked with plenty of people I didn't personally like, and just minimized my contact with them.
posted by pla at 6:15 PM on September 29, 2010
And would you actually need to work with this person, or just in the same building? I've worked with plenty of people I didn't personally like, and just minimized my contact with them.
posted by pla at 6:15 PM on September 29, 2010
She sounds like a terrible fit. But I imagine that if your boss does go ahead and hire her, she's not going to last long. I'd personally like to be around to watch the drama unfold.
posted by radioamy at 6:22 PM on September 29, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by radioamy at 6:22 PM on September 29, 2010 [3 favorites]
She sounds like a terrible fit. Not knowing where you are, I can't really suggest anything more to do but re-advertise the ad. You can also call national pro-choice groups and ask them if they know anyone in your area you can contact. That's possibly a choice.
posted by parmanparman at 6:37 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by parmanparman at 6:37 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Perhaps you could convince your boss to re-advertise the position, and bring in this person for a second interview while also interviewing new candidates?
posted by box at 6:38 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by box at 6:38 PM on September 29, 2010
Work often puts us with people we find repugnant in all sorts of areas. Stick it out. If she causes problems because of her political beliefs, then you have grounds for taking further action. While working from home might seem like an acceptable alternative, that's not an option I'd take; she's just one person, and learning to deal with people we don't agree with is a crucial part of life.
posted by incessant at 6:39 PM on September 29, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by incessant at 6:39 PM on September 29, 2010 [7 favorites]
Female here, and as pro-choice as we get.
Honestly? It sounds like this situation isn't about you, but you're making it about you.
You don't have an ethical quandary about the work you're doing or the organization you're doing it for. Exposure to this new person's point of view will probably not make you question your beliefs or actions -- indeed, it shouldn't.
This woman is walking on your turf, and she's doing it with eyes wide open. I highly doubt she'll secretly try to subvert the organization's mission. She won't be walking the halls judging everyone she sees every day or slipping religious pamphlets under keyboards. I'm sure she'll be on her very best behavior at all times, given the inherent sensitivity of the issue. And if she isn't, she won't last there.
You don't know what her reasons are for wanting to be there. Maybe she's gone through something recently and her views have changed since her previous activism. Maybe she's able to compartmentalize her personal and career-oriented lives. Maybe this is an exercise in empathy for her, wanting to see the real people on the other side of the line.
Whatever her reasons, you've stated your objections and the powers that be have made a decision you don't agree with, resulting in your being asked to work with someone you don't like. This will happen again and again in your career, until and unless you're the ultimate decision-maker. It's best to find ways to cope without compromising your professionalism or your own career goals.
Just a reminder: you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, and you have every reason to stand tall and proud at work, while you're helping all those people through an extremely difficult time. You'll still do difficult and important work, whether they hire this woman or not. She isn't important to you in the long run.
Don't let a person with an opposing viewpoint force you to change, hide out, or feel awkward. You're giving her way too much power over you. Working from home and quitting both sound like cop-outs to me. Instead, roll up your sleeves, and learn what you can from this woman. When it's time for you to move on, you'll feel good about making the best of it, and knowing how to handle a bad situation next time.
posted by nadise at 6:40 PM on September 29, 2010 [15 favorites]
Honestly? It sounds like this situation isn't about you, but you're making it about you.
You don't have an ethical quandary about the work you're doing or the organization you're doing it for. Exposure to this new person's point of view will probably not make you question your beliefs or actions -- indeed, it shouldn't.
This woman is walking on your turf, and she's doing it with eyes wide open. I highly doubt she'll secretly try to subvert the organization's mission. She won't be walking the halls judging everyone she sees every day or slipping religious pamphlets under keyboards. I'm sure she'll be on her very best behavior at all times, given the inherent sensitivity of the issue. And if she isn't, she won't last there.
You don't know what her reasons are for wanting to be there. Maybe she's gone through something recently and her views have changed since her previous activism. Maybe she's able to compartmentalize her personal and career-oriented lives. Maybe this is an exercise in empathy for her, wanting to see the real people on the other side of the line.
Whatever her reasons, you've stated your objections and the powers that be have made a decision you don't agree with, resulting in your being asked to work with someone you don't like. This will happen again and again in your career, until and unless you're the ultimate decision-maker. It's best to find ways to cope without compromising your professionalism or your own career goals.
Just a reminder: you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, and you have every reason to stand tall and proud at work, while you're helping all those people through an extremely difficult time. You'll still do difficult and important work, whether they hire this woman or not. She isn't important to you in the long run.
Don't let a person with an opposing viewpoint force you to change, hide out, or feel awkward. You're giving her way too much power over you. Working from home and quitting both sound like cop-outs to me. Instead, roll up your sleeves, and learn what you can from this woman. When it's time for you to move on, you'll feel good about making the best of it, and knowing how to handle a bad situation next time.
posted by nadise at 6:40 PM on September 29, 2010 [15 favorites]
Maybe I'm paranoid, or misunderstanding what your organization does, but I cannot imagine a pro-choice organization hiring someone with an extensive history of anti-abortion activism to work with women seeking abortions. It seems... fucking insane, frankly.
People do have changes of heart, but seldom so quickly and so completely about such a hot-button issue. The best case scenario has her managing to overcome her personal beliefs and doing an adequate job. The worst case scenario is that she's trying to set up or sabotage your organization somehow.
posted by dersins at 6:41 PM on September 29, 2010 [21 favorites]
People do have changes of heart, but seldom so quickly and so completely about such a hot-button issue. The best case scenario has her managing to overcome her personal beliefs and doing an adequate job. The worst case scenario is that she's trying to set up or sabotage your organization somehow.
posted by dersins at 6:41 PM on September 29, 2010 [21 favorites]
I've seen a lot of job postings, especially for activist orgs and nonprofits and whatnot, that list as a required qualification something along the lines of 'a commitment to the x cause' or 'an interest in y issues.'
Did anything like that appear in the job posting?
posted by box at 6:47 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Did anything like that appear in the job posting?
posted by box at 6:47 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here's my experience with this: my partner is a transsexual. I used to work on the Security crew at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival; during my last year there, I was one of the coordinators of that crew. The festival is for "women-born" women only--transwomen are not welcome. I supported the inclusion of transwomen in the festival, but in my job as a security coordinator I was very comfortable working within the festival's policy as it was written (this was a very active part of the job as there were and are activist transwomen and allies both camped outside the festival and choosing to come into the festival land to lead workshops and such).
Rumors got back to me about how I was a "mole" for the activist transwomen and was secretly trying to undermine the policy, or was going to let a bunch of transwomen enter blah blah blah blah. None of that was true. For whatever reason, at that time in my life I was perfectly comfortable compartmentalizing my own personal views about whether transwomen should be allowed at the festival, and my job as a security coordinator with responsibility for communicating and enforcing festival polices. I did my job very well, with respect for both the festival and the transwomen and their allies I had interactions with. It was hard for some women to believe that I was really OK working in that role. But I was.
Abortion is such a heated topic that it is a little hard to believe someone could compartmentalize about it in that same way, and be OK working in a professional capacity in opposition to their personal beliefs. But whether she can navigate that or not is her responsibility. Your first option assumes something bad will happen to the "office environment" if this woman works there, but my experience at the festival suggests that the only reason me working there caused any problems in the work environment was other women making assumptions and gossiping about me. So in your shoes I'd try not to assume that this woman will bring bad blood, and would also do my best not to create that bad blood. It sounds like this woman is willing to be open-minded; perhaps you should try to do the same.
posted by not that girl at 6:51 PM on September 29, 2010 [8 favorites]
Rumors got back to me about how I was a "mole" for the activist transwomen and was secretly trying to undermine the policy, or was going to let a bunch of transwomen enter blah blah blah blah. None of that was true. For whatever reason, at that time in my life I was perfectly comfortable compartmentalizing my own personal views about whether transwomen should be allowed at the festival, and my job as a security coordinator with responsibility for communicating and enforcing festival polices. I did my job very well, with respect for both the festival and the transwomen and their allies I had interactions with. It was hard for some women to believe that I was really OK working in that role. But I was.
Abortion is such a heated topic that it is a little hard to believe someone could compartmentalize about it in that same way, and be OK working in a professional capacity in opposition to their personal beliefs. But whether she can navigate that or not is her responsibility. Your first option assumes something bad will happen to the "office environment" if this woman works there, but my experience at the festival suggests that the only reason me working there caused any problems in the work environment was other women making assumptions and gossiping about me. So in your shoes I'd try not to assume that this woman will bring bad blood, and would also do my best not to create that bad blood. It sounds like this woman is willing to be open-minded; perhaps you should try to do the same.
posted by not that girl at 6:51 PM on September 29, 2010 [8 favorites]
It's pretty appalling and inexplicable that they'd want to hire her. But since you can't change their decision, you should work from home and get your free Master's. That's too good an opportunity to pass up.
posted by Mavri at 6:53 PM on September 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Mavri at 6:53 PM on September 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
Why on deity-of-choice's green earth did she apply for this job? "It's about the people and not the act"? That makes no sense to me.
I'd be concerned about her motives, and would bring that concern to the attention of my boss.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 6:57 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd be concerned about her motives, and would bring that concern to the attention of my boss.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 6:57 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
I, too, am having trouble comprehending why on earth a pro-choice organization would hire someone with an extensive anti-choice history. What was the deal with the other applicants for the job?
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, though - what kind of "outreach and research" does the organization do?
In light of the Abby Johnson ridiculousness, I'm inclined to be a bit paranoid about sabotage and the like.
How did your boss react when you brought up your concerns? If your boss dismissed your concerns without so much as an explanation of why she thought the candidate was truly the best fit for the job, I'd be looking for another position somewhere else.
posted by SugarAndSass at 6:57 PM on September 29, 2010
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, though - what kind of "outreach and research" does the organization do?
In light of the Abby Johnson ridiculousness, I'm inclined to be a bit paranoid about sabotage and the like.
How did your boss react when you brought up your concerns? If your boss dismissed your concerns without so much as an explanation of why she thought the candidate was truly the best fit for the job, I'd be looking for another position somewhere else.
posted by SugarAndSass at 6:57 PM on September 29, 2010
The likelihood of this woman lasting at your organisation is nil. Zero. None. Zilch. So this is the part where you prove your professionalism totally knowing that this strategy will work out for you in about 10 minutes:
You thank your boss for listening to your concerns, you tell her that you respect her judgement in making this decision, and then you tell her that of course you will do what is best for the organisation and work cooperatively with your new colleague.
Believe me I understand how utterly objectionable you find this woman. I am not saying it will be easy or even pleasant. But to pack up and go home undermines your boss, is not a very professional attitude, and is bad for your relationship with the organisation.
Also for what it's worth, I've had an abortion, I worked at Planned Parenthood, and I would suck it up and work with this woman because as deeply objectionable as I find them, she has a right to her beliefs the exact same way I have a right to mine.
Also I would secretly really want to be there when she left.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:01 PM on September 29, 2010 [22 favorites]
You thank your boss for listening to your concerns, you tell her that you respect her judgement in making this decision, and then you tell her that of course you will do what is best for the organisation and work cooperatively with your new colleague.
Believe me I understand how utterly objectionable you find this woman. I am not saying it will be easy or even pleasant. But to pack up and go home undermines your boss, is not a very professional attitude, and is bad for your relationship with the organisation.
Also for what it's worth, I've had an abortion, I worked at Planned Parenthood, and I would suck it up and work with this woman because as deeply objectionable as I find them, she has a right to her beliefs the exact same way I have a right to mine.
Also I would secretly really want to be there when she left.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:01 PM on September 29, 2010 [22 favorites]
I'm having a hard time believing that this story is true, to be honest. Anti-abortion types have absolutely no scruples, and everyone involved in providing abortions knows that. Your boss doesn't realize that this person might publicize the personal information of everyone who works in your organization in order to facilitate harassment of you? That she might publish client lists on the internet so that women who have had abortions can be harassed and shamed and terrorized? That she might use her position to lie to clients and deny them the services they are seeking? That she might sabotage your organization? That she might kill you? Has your boss been paying absolutely no attention for the past twenty-odd years? I don't believe anyone would be that stupid.
If everything you are saying here is true, then you should quit your job, because your boss is an idiot who is endangering you and all your co-workers.
posted by craichead at 7:02 PM on September 29, 2010 [25 favorites]
If everything you are saying here is true, then you should quit your job, because your boss is an idiot who is endangering you and all your co-workers.
posted by craichead at 7:02 PM on September 29, 2010 [25 favorites]
If you serve clients in a fiduciary situation. But cause advocacy? Never.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:09 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Ironmouth at 7:09 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was going to share an example from my own life, but nothing I could come up with comes close to what not that girl said so well. You should stay and stay working in the office. There's no way to know what brings her to your organization, and dealing with her presence in a professional way is preparation for your future career, when you don't have a benefactor or alternatives.
If she makes your office a bad environment, think about working from home then. If it were me, I would not suggest to my boss that I need special accommodations due to a new hire who has political views I don't like again.
posted by vincele at 7:10 PM on September 29, 2010
If she makes your office a bad environment, think about working from home then. If it were me, I would not suggest to my boss that I need special accommodations due to a new hire who has political views I don't like again.
posted by vincele at 7:10 PM on September 29, 2010
I'm very surprised that someone who is anti-abortion would apply for an outreach job in a pro-choice organisation. I'm also very surprised that the organisation in question would want to hire that candidate unless there are some very extentuating circumstances.
So I'm thinking that there may be something more going on here. But I'm not sure what. Had she indicated a change in heart? (Possible) Is she someone who is able to completely divorce her personal beliefs for her job? (Very rare, but possible)
You're not compromising your beliefs by working for the organisation. Your new colleague may be, but that's not your problem. You have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to be ashamed of, if she doesn't agree with your decision then that's her problem not yours. We all work with people whose views we don't agree with. Don't change your working life for her (unless you want to work from home, in which case, take this as a great opportunity!)
(Side issue, but I find it odd that you describe your organisation and colleagues as being pro-abortion. In the UK, that's the description used by anti-abortionists to describe the pro-choice position. Pro-abortion suggests people running around advocating abortion to every pregnant woman they see. And that's not what your organisation does, I'm assuming. As someone who is almost militantly pro-choice, I find that a bit odd.)
posted by finding.perdita at 7:25 PM on September 29, 2010 [5 favorites]
So I'm thinking that there may be something more going on here. But I'm not sure what. Had she indicated a change in heart? (Possible) Is she someone who is able to completely divorce her personal beliefs for her job? (Very rare, but possible)
You're not compromising your beliefs by working for the organisation. Your new colleague may be, but that's not your problem. You have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to be ashamed of, if she doesn't agree with your decision then that's her problem not yours. We all work with people whose views we don't agree with. Don't change your working life for her (unless you want to work from home, in which case, take this as a great opportunity!)
(Side issue, but I find it odd that you describe your organisation and colleagues as being pro-abortion. In the UK, that's the description used by anti-abortionists to describe the pro-choice position. Pro-abortion suggests people running around advocating abortion to every pregnant woman they see. And that's not what your organisation does, I'm assuming. As someone who is almost militantly pro-choice, I find that a bit odd.)
posted by finding.perdita at 7:25 PM on September 29, 2010 [5 favorites]
Here's another view. I'm a gay man, pro-choice and anti-abortion (I think it's wrong, I'd never, ever do it, and I think every woman has to be able to make whatever choice she feels is right). That said: if you feel so strongly about this, why in the world would you want to work for a place that would hire this woman to do that job? That's just nuts. No matter WHAT this woman's motivations are for applying, as a long, long survivor of Office Wars, I can all but guarantee this won't end well for your employer. I vote for: if they hire her, find another job.
posted by OneMonkeysUncle at 7:58 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by OneMonkeysUncle at 7:58 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I agree with finding.perdita, pro-choice advocates- myself included- do not call themselves pro-abortion, so maybe there's something fishy here.
posted by mareli at 7:59 PM on September 29, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by mareli at 7:59 PM on September 29, 2010 [3 favorites]
go, craichead. my thoughts exactly.
posted by lakersfan1222 at 8:08 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by lakersfan1222 at 8:08 PM on September 29, 2010
Many things about this question seems off to me:
- The "pro-abortion" moniker is pretty specifically used by anti-choice movements;
- The candidate is the only one with outreach experience, so the org is leaning to hiring her-- there's no other potential candidate who believes in the org's mission that has outreach experience? And the organization's mission IS outreach?
- The applicant has a "very extensive past of anti-rights work (everything from homosexuality to immigrants) including a 5 year stint as a director of an anti-abortion group" and she wants to work at a non-profit org which would blow the credibility of her entire history of work out of the water?
- The person claims that she wants this job because "it's about the people and not the act." Actually, it is all about the option to have the act, if I'm reading your question correctly.
- "...because I'm fairly low level my boss only offered me the options of working from home or quitting." You're not low level, if your boss offered you that.
- The mysterious private donor paying for your Master's if you work at this non-profit: I suppose stranger things have happened, but wouldn't it be easier/more beneficial if he donated to the non-profit?
I have many more, but have made my point: the more I think about this question, the more questions pop up. But just in case, a real answer: quit your job, finish your master's on your own, because if your boss is such an idiot that this seems to be a good idea, you don't want to be there when the org implodes.
posted by sfkiddo at 8:21 PM on September 29, 2010 [4 favorites]
- The "pro-abortion" moniker is pretty specifically used by anti-choice movements;
- The candidate is the only one with outreach experience, so the org is leaning to hiring her-- there's no other potential candidate who believes in the org's mission that has outreach experience? And the organization's mission IS outreach?
- The applicant has a "very extensive past of anti-rights work (everything from homosexuality to immigrants) including a 5 year stint as a director of an anti-abortion group" and she wants to work at a non-profit org which would blow the credibility of her entire history of work out of the water?
- The person claims that she wants this job because "it's about the people and not the act." Actually, it is all about the option to have the act, if I'm reading your question correctly.
- "...because I'm fairly low level my boss only offered me the options of working from home or quitting." You're not low level, if your boss offered you that.
- The mysterious private donor paying for your Master's if you work at this non-profit: I suppose stranger things have happened, but wouldn't it be easier/more beneficial if he donated to the non-profit?
I have many more, but have made my point: the more I think about this question, the more questions pop up. But just in case, a real answer: quit your job, finish your master's on your own, because if your boss is such an idiot that this seems to be a good idea, you don't want to be there when the org implodes.
posted by sfkiddo at 8:21 PM on September 29, 2010 [4 favorites]
Seconding everyone here who says "this smells".
My bet is that you hire her, and a month later every piece of even slightly-incriminating information that you have is leaked to Drudge or Breitbart.
posted by Oktober at 8:42 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
My bet is that you hire her, and a month later every piece of even slightly-incriminating information that you have is leaked to Drudge or Breitbart.
posted by Oktober at 8:42 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Mod note: From the OP:
-I used pro-abortion because that's what 90% of the applicant's websites say, which has been my biggest focus. I honestly never cared about the wording and didn't realize it would be that big of an issue. Sorry if I offended anyone.posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:55 PM on September 29, 2010
-Myself and two others would share an office with this person if she is in fact hired. I don't particularly want to work from home because I have become accustomed to the ease of talking across the office instead of the phone or email, and because I'm not 100% sure I would have the motivation to get out of bed and get things done otherwise. Lame, I know, but I'm not good at self-motivation when there's no time line.
-My organization works with women who are going through the process of or have recently had an abortion. Most of the people I work with have degrees in psychology, as the focus is how we can help them psychologically cope with the decision. We are also starting research into people who have had abortions and are now looking to start families and if their history causes any problems. Hopefully that is enough background without giving the exact org. away.
-My donor funds several other grad students besides myself. Other members of his family fund certain other aspects of the organization (and no, they haven't heard about this yet, although I'm not sure there is a way for them to take grant money back if they had). There was no money in the grant proposal to fund grad students, and we are not connected to a university for the university to offer money or discounts, so instead he does it as an opportunity for both the students and the organization.
Just fwiw, people can change. 10 years ago I was in a very charismatic church and a die-hard pro-lifer. Today... well, I still have my reservations (it shouldn't be used as birth control) but I'm pretty pro-choice. In fact, I was reading a blog about people who volunteer outside the abortion clinics and do nothing but shield the pregnant women, from their car to the clinic door, from the pro-lifers who scream at them and throw graphic images in their faces. If I had the opportunity to be on that team, I'd try it at least for a day.
Now, I can't say this woman has changed. But I have.
posted by IndigoRain at 9:03 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Now, I can't say this woman has changed. But I have.
posted by IndigoRain at 9:03 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
This sounds insane to me. I'm not sure I'd even feel safe working around this woman. Some of her allies in the anti-choice movement have killed people.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:15 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by bluedaisy at 9:15 PM on September 29, 2010
(Sorry, in my disbelief, I posted too soon.)
What would I do in your situation? It's hard to believe your boss will actually end up hiring this woman. Does she need approval of a board or something? Would the new employee actually be working with clients?
So I guess I would wait it out, because there's a chance this hire won't go through. Then, I would probably consider working from home for a while, at least a day or two a week, while I really thought through my options.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:17 PM on September 29, 2010
What would I do in your situation? It's hard to believe your boss will actually end up hiring this woman. Does she need approval of a board or something? Would the new employee actually be working with clients?
So I guess I would wait it out, because there's a chance this hire won't go through. Then, I would probably consider working from home for a while, at least a day or two a week, while I really thought through my options.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:17 PM on September 29, 2010
To the people saying this woman has changed, her own words indicate she hasn't:
"it's about the people and not the act."
If she had had a change of heart, I'm sure that would have been mentioned in the interview.
So, if you were an anti-choice activist, what do you think "it's about the people" means in that context? I means helping redirect your clients to Jesus instead of professional care and safe options. I guess the other option is that she's lying and it's really all about advancing her professional career, beliefs and moral compass be damned. That's not much better.
I'm half-inclined to believe this post is a troll, because the other options are insane.
posted by formless at 9:54 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
"it's about the people and not the act."
If she had had a change of heart, I'm sure that would have been mentioned in the interview.
So, if you were an anti-choice activist, what do you think "it's about the people" means in that context? I means helping redirect your clients to Jesus instead of professional care and safe options. I guess the other option is that she's lying and it's really all about advancing her professional career, beliefs and moral compass be damned. That's not much better.
I'm half-inclined to believe this post is a troll, because the other options are insane.
posted by formless at 9:54 PM on September 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sorry, I didn't answer your question. I think DarlingBri has the best advice so far. Act professional, maybe attempt to work in the office with her. If that doesn't work out, take the work at home option.
posted by formless at 10:00 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by formless at 10:00 PM on September 29, 2010
I am a volunteer escort at a clinic in a rural part of a state near me. The "anti-abortion activists" claim, vocally, repeatedly, in our faces, every week, that they care so very much about the women, the women, the women; that this clinic is hurting and killing and tricking the women; that we are trying to force the women to have an abortion; that we are Lucifer's workers; that the devil is at work; that I should be ashamed of myself; that I am going to hell. They harass women and children and bypassers and us, the volunteers, without compunction; they pushed a volunteer into the street a few weeks ago. They say things to me that I won't repeat, and the venom and hatred in their eyes and their voice scares me.
And that's the weekenders. I can't imagine the level of passion that would drive one to include anti-choice work in their career.
I do not feel safe while escorting because of these individuals and groups. That's four hours, once a week, and they don't know my name or where I live or work. I would absolutely not feel safe working with a committed anti-choice activist.
posted by quadrilaterals at 10:57 PM on September 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
And that's the weekenders. I can't imagine the level of passion that would drive one to include anti-choice work in their career.
I do not feel safe while escorting because of these individuals and groups. That's four hours, once a week, and they don't know my name or where I live or work. I would absolutely not feel safe working with a committed anti-choice activist.
posted by quadrilaterals at 10:57 PM on September 29, 2010 [2 favorites]
Your boss is crazy to think for one moment of hiring this woman, who isn't bothering to deny that she is as strongly opposed to abortion as she ever was. "It's about the people not the act" is either the kind of pathetically transparent evasion a person who believes it's absolutely wrong to tell a direct lie in any circumstances would use, or it's a statement designed to allow her to deny misrepresenting herself in case of legal trouble down the road.
Crazy unless your boss is in cahoots with this woman in an attempt to take down and destroy the organization, that is.
Which is exactly what I think is happening here. No person with the applicant's background would waste her time applying for such a job at an organization like yours unless she knew she had someone on the inside with the authority to hire her.
I believe you now need to identify the most powerful and senior individual in the organization that you're absolutely sure is committed to its mission, and then go to that person and tell him or her exactly what's going on.
If that person won't listen to you, go to the national office of NARAL or Planned Parenthood and tell your story to them.
posted by jamjam at 11:40 PM on September 29, 2010 [3 favorites]
Crazy unless your boss is in cahoots with this woman in an attempt to take down and destroy the organization, that is.
Which is exactly what I think is happening here. No person with the applicant's background would waste her time applying for such a job at an organization like yours unless she knew she had someone on the inside with the authority to hire her.
I believe you now need to identify the most powerful and senior individual in the organization that you're absolutely sure is committed to its mission, and then go to that person and tell him or her exactly what's going on.
If that person won't listen to you, go to the national office of NARAL or Planned Parenthood and tell your story to them.
posted by jamjam at 11:40 PM on September 29, 2010 [3 favorites]
When is it okay for your personal beliefs to directly contradict your line of work?
When you believe you shouldn't get screwed out of a job because people don't like your political views?
Seriously. Hell, depending on you local legal landscape, withdrawing an offer or sacking someone because you don't like their political opinions would be a great way to end up writing their lawyer a big cheque.
posted by rodgerd at 12:29 AM on September 30, 2010
When you believe you shouldn't get screwed out of a job because people don't like your political views?
Seriously. Hell, depending on you local legal landscape, withdrawing an offer or sacking someone because you don't like their political opinions would be a great way to end up writing their lawyer a big cheque.
posted by rodgerd at 12:29 AM on September 30, 2010
It's about the people? Wasn't it about the people when she did anti-rights work?
posted by Obscure Reference at 1:31 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Obscure Reference at 1:31 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Checking back on this after sleeping on it, I have another thought.
Perhaps this applicant doesn't really care one way or the other, just considers it all a job, and to this point, the anti-choice groups have paid better. Not so much a matter of compartmentalization, as just not giving a damn.
As a simple example, I started my career working for a gambling-oriented company (hardware, not operating casinos), and stayed there for the better part of a decade. And I would have absolutely no reservations about working for an anti-gambling PAC, if the pay and conditions sounded good. Just another job.
(Well, actually, I would think twice - though not necessarily say no - about working for a PAC period. Nothing to do with gambling, though.)
posted by pla at 3:18 AM on September 30, 2010
Perhaps this applicant doesn't really care one way or the other, just considers it all a job, and to this point, the anti-choice groups have paid better. Not so much a matter of compartmentalization, as just not giving a damn.
As a simple example, I started my career working for a gambling-oriented company (hardware, not operating casinos), and stayed there for the better part of a decade. And I would have absolutely no reservations about working for an anti-gambling PAC, if the pay and conditions sounded good. Just another job.
(Well, actually, I would think twice - though not necessarily say no - about working for a PAC period. Nothing to do with gambling, though.)
posted by pla at 3:18 AM on September 30, 2010
So I asked my dear friend who has done abortion work for ten years or so what she thought. She did not mince words. Quoted with her permission:
"For them to even consider hiring that person is ridiculous. They should have to be pro-choice as a requirement. If I were the person asking the question, I'd quit that place. Its too dangerous to fuck around with this shit now-a-days."
posted by box at 4:41 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
"For them to even consider hiring that person is ridiculous. They should have to be pro-choice as a requirement. If I were the person asking the question, I'd quit that place. Its too dangerous to fuck around with this shit now-a-days."
posted by box at 4:41 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm with jamjam. This just screams sleeper agent to me. I can't imagine a pro-choice organization hiring a right-to-lifer.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:32 AM on September 30, 2010
posted by ob1quixote at 7:32 AM on September 30, 2010
I totally agree with dersins. This is extremely fishy; so much so that I would suspect an attempted politically-motivated infiltration of your organisation.
Would you work for an anti-abortion organisation and justify it in the way this person has justified herself? This issue is too strong, too deep, too divisive and too damned important for me to seriously imagine a known activist for the other side could be trying to work for your organisation with anything but ulterior motives. That isn't paranoia, though. It's common sense.
What should you do? I don't know, but I know what I'd do. I'd send a strongly-worded letter of complaint/concern to the highest levels of your organisation, because this is serious. And I'd also have my resume up to date and start looking. It sounds like your boss may be a fifth columnist.
posted by Decani at 11:54 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Would you work for an anti-abortion organisation and justify it in the way this person has justified herself? This issue is too strong, too deep, too divisive and too damned important for me to seriously imagine a known activist for the other side could be trying to work for your organisation with anything but ulterior motives. That isn't paranoia, though. It's common sense.
What should you do? I don't know, but I know what I'd do. I'd send a strongly-worded letter of complaint/concern to the highest levels of your organisation, because this is serious. And I'd also have my resume up to date and start looking. It sounds like your boss may be a fifth columnist.
posted by Decani at 11:54 AM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
I can't believe that your boss would consider hiring this person for a second. It does sound... kind of off, at best.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:20 PM on September 30, 2010
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:20 PM on September 30, 2010
This jumped out at me:
also had some other small problems with the interview (bad presentation skills, takes credit for others work, etc.
Do you mean that in addition to a track record of working against your organization's goals, this person didn't interview well? I would think that "bad presentation skills" would be a dealbreaker for an outreach position, experience or no.
I agree with others that this is extremely fishy and alerting others seems warranted.
posted by jeoc at 6:04 PM on October 1, 2010
also had some other small problems with the interview (bad presentation skills, takes credit for others work, etc.
Do you mean that in addition to a track record of working against your organization's goals, this person didn't interview well? I would think that "bad presentation skills" would be a dealbreaker for an outreach position, experience or no.
I agree with others that this is extremely fishy and alerting others seems warranted.
posted by jeoc at 6:04 PM on October 1, 2010
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posted by lizbunny at 6:15 PM on September 29, 2010