Yeah, the claim that spousal hires are "unethical" is ludicrous. I'd
love to know what ethical precept it violates.
On the other hand, spousal hires conform to the "family values" our
nation so loudly proclaims. Given that, a spousal hire policy would
seem more ethical than policies that promote family breakups.
It is also wise human resource policy for the reasons specified below.
It makes for much more productive employees -- I know from experience
that long-distance relationships take a toll on all involved, no matter
how well adjusted the parties are.
Dave
On 8/20/2011 7:07 AM, Kim van der Linde wrote:
On 8/19/2011 11:07 PM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote:
Was it about unethical hiring practices like spousal hirings,
nepotism, etc.? These are RAMPANT in Academia.
I have no serious problem with spousal fires, because it means that
the hire committee/dean/chair/.... has basically concluded that hiring
the two of them is the best choice for the university, even if the
spouse is maybe not of the same level of what they otherwise could
get. Sometimes, like I have seen here where I work, the money for the
hire would not have been freed at all, and the spousal hire
effectively resulted in a extra hire. Offering spousal hires often is
part of the hiring negotiations because split families means that your
candidate is at far larger risk to keep looking for a job elsewhere
after you hire them so s/he can be with his partner again.
It is easy to rail against spousal hires if you are single, or have a
partner who has a career that is portable so you can just go where you
want to go, or when you don't care to live at the other side of the
country. It is a different story of you have a family and like to be
with you family. And universities understand the two-body problem and
spousal hires are just one way to ensure you can hire the best
candidates.
Kim
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