Seeking legal interviewing strategies to avoid hiring whiny/entitled liberal employees (Vanity)

1/31/2006

[doctora]

My first vanity post and hope it's not an imposition. I'd really appreciate the suggestions from fellow freepers and I suspect others may benefit from this discussion.

I'm a doctor about to hire an associate for my practice. A few years ago I realized I was politically conservative which explained why very often a common thread among people I didn't respect was their liberal politcs. Their values were totally opposite mine. I've had some bad employees in the past - turned out they were all liberals (not that being conservative on its own makes one a good employee, to be fair). So it occurs to me a likely predictor of a bad employee (for me) is a liberal.

I hired an associate doctor two months ago who interviewed great but turned south fast. I fired him one month later. He was whiny, complained, treated my staff poorly, brought his personal junk to the office, felt entitled to running the place as he saw fit, etc. You guessed it - turns out he's a liberal. I even caught him Bush-bashing with a patient which I put an end to fast.

I've decided a liberal would be a very poor fit in an associate and I won't make this mistake again. (Also, there's a strong faith component to my practice: we're here to serve God, our bodies are God's Temple designed with the power to heal).

Politics isn't something one can raise in an interview and I'm seeking some ideas on probing for liberal traits. My office is in Western MA so I'm already playing against the odds.

Before I hire the next associate, I'm going to take him/her out to dinner with my husband. Hopefully, during a 3 hour dinner outside the office more will be revealed.

Any ideas on interviewing strategies to avoid hiring a whiny liberal?

Some thoughts that crossed my mind, especially to bring up during the dinner:

1) If has school-aged kids, ask how they feel about their school system. What they like and dislike about it.

2) What kinds of volunteer work they've done.

Any and all ideas very much appreciated.

[demsux]

I made the mistake of keeping a whiny liberal woman on staff at my store.

With my cameras, I discovered she was stealing me blind.

Prosecuted AND got restitution from her father.

She wasn't even selling the merchandise...she was just getting back at "the man"...me.

In my experience, military brats are the best employees by far.

[AUJenn]

I think it is almost impossible to work with people like this, and since it is YOUR practice, you can pick and choose as you like.

If you are religious, I think advertising in a conservative magazine or even web site may be a good start. If you attend church, you could advertise in your church bulletin.

Perhaps display a Bible or a conservative book in your office and see if it gets any reaction. Our relatives prominently display both Clinton books and their Clinton Christmas card (which Hil and Bill sign separately) in their home office, and you immediately get a sense of the kind of folk they are.

Asking how they feel about the American health care system is a great idea. Going out to a lengthy dinner is also a good idea -- a couple glasses of wine always gets the truth out!

[Ben Chad]

Ask what they think about Brokeback Mountain and similar crap coming out of hollywood.

[doctora]

Hmmmmm. I'm starting to smell a rat. First of all, this isn't your first vanity.

#1, my husband is Uncledave. Look up his profile.

#2, I'm a chiropractor and tell all my patients exactly what you wrote.

I want to meet you!

[Gorzaloon]

Believe it or not, political affiliation doesn't have the same protections that race and gender do. You can tell the guy, to his face, that you aren't hiring him because he's a lefty, and there's nothing he'll be able to do. He'll sue you, but he'll lose.

And the lawyers will win. Don't forget, in the Boston Area, there is one lawyer for every 33 human beings...

[Gordongekko909]

No, no, no. Reagan. Picture of Reagan.

[libertylass]

Where do you practice? I need a good conservative Doctor....
Ask them if they plan to "first do no harm...."

[Sue Bob]

I think that you should consult with an employment attorney in your own state about this. Even though "political persuasion" is not a constitutionally protected class as one poster said, employment law is very complicated and varies from State to State. You have to deal with laws, case law, regulations and interpretations of regulations.

I consult with an employment attorney for my firm on a regular basis. Though I am an attorney, there is no way I can keep up with all the laws, regulations and interpretations of same. Some of the things I have learned from my own attorney (about asking personal-type questions) have shocked me and seemed very counterintuitive.

[angkor]

Liberals usually do all kinds of entertaining things, like affix Greenpeace bumperstickers to their little Range Rover.

A lot of them are still sporting their Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers, strangely on SUVs. I see them all the time in my neck of the woods.

[AngrySpud]

1. Look at their bumper stickers.
2. Google their name -- it`s amazing what you can find.
3. Do an online search to see if they`ve donated to your state`s officeholders. I don`t know how to do that, but read of FReepers doing it often.

[willyd]

A person's political persuasion has no affect on the profitability of the company or practice. If you want to find that out about a candidate, just leave them unattended in the samples closet and then check to see what is missing later. That should give you a good clue.

[Gordongekko909]

Just in case anyone out there was wondering, it's not a protected class for jury selection, either. You can fire off every one of your peremptories at libs, and if you get challenged on it and say that you were discriminating on the basis of political affiliation and not gender or race, then there's nothing anyone can do.

[bahblahbah]

Ignore all those people who say to display a picture of Bush, or a Bible, or in any way make it obvious what views you hold in the hope that the interviewee would react. They aren't going to let something like that bother them if they really want the money. You have to use pointed questions.

[spunkets]

" BINGO! This is the way to go. Probe their opinions on public health policy."

Your failure to previously note the most common chat subject amongst docs is remarkable. Can you auscultate flutter?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I am a lawyer for the military that handles discrimination cases and adverse action appeals. You need to be very careful with your questions. If you ask a pattern of questions that points toward discrimination of a person based on race, sex, age (over 40), national origin, disability, color, religion (or lack of), and sexual preference you could be sued an subject to big time damages.

Don't ask obvious questions that focus on any of the person's "protected class." For example, you must not ask a young woman if she is planning to get pregnant or have a family anytime soon. Don't ask a middle aged person when they are planning to retire. Never ask a question that relates to race or ethnicity, like "Is you last name Spanish or Italian." Don't ask if they go to church, synagogue or mosque or where they go to church, etc.
As far as political persuasion, technically that is not a "protected class." However, a political question may somehow fall into one of the other classes.

I think you need to craft questions that ask about background, education, extracurricular activities, etc. that would elicit answers that might point to what kind of person he/she really is. A person might tell you that he was president of his fraternity in college, which might indicate a more conservative person. The person might tell you he volunteered for Catholic Charities, etc. If they have served in the military there is a good chance they are conservative or at least not liberal. If they worked for the peace corps or job corps, look out.

I have interview many persons for jobs and been interviewed. Ask them hypothetical questions designed to find out how they operate under stress. Also, what are their expectations about the job. If they demand a multitude of job benefits or rights, they may be a liberal.

Of course, you want someone that works hard, is proud of their work and loyal to their employer.

[rwb.usa]

I struggle with a similar issue, making sure that I don't hire any Scientologists. Since the IRS deemed them to be a religion some years back (yeah, right) I'm not allowed to ask them outright if they are a Ron-bot for fear of a discrimination suit. God knows they love to sue. I AM however allowed to ask about prior criminal activity and worker's compensation claims. That filters many of them out of the running, but you never know.

Can you forbid political or religious proselytizing during office hours? I know you can forbid solicitation, which I do.

[truth_seeker]

"Politics isn't something one can raise in an interview and I'm seeking some ideas on probing for liberal traits."

Actually, I didn't know it was out of bounds, legally.

If I was in your situation, I would frankly put it on the table, if you felt the candidate looked good, otherwise.

"Doctor xxxxx, I have found people work best when they are confortable in the workplace environment. For example, if your views were liberal politically and mine were conservative, we might not get along well, after awhile. How do you feel about that?

There are dialogs that ask open ended questions, and prompt good exchange of ideas.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Ask them the last three books they read not associated with their field; five people they would like to have dinner with and why; what they do in their spare time (hunt, fish, ski); what organizations they support (NRA; PETA; Rotary; Church; ELF); where they would most like to go on vacation outside the US (France; Italy; South Africa).

I would note what they drive; if they tip the guy who brings the car; how they dress; if they are fussy about the wine; do they eat meat; their manners and how they treat the wait person.

As a salesman and sales manager since the 70's I would never hire someone without going to dinner with them and their spouse.

[doctora]

Great info, thanks George.

[FreedomNotSafety]

If you are hiring youngsters please hire liberal ones. Nothing makes them rebel like their first dose of Social Security, Medicare, FICA, FUI, SUI, State, Local, School, and etc. withholding. Then pair them up with a real loser that you need to fire but who will end up costing you plenty in court cost.

How to hire a liberal? Look at activities, volunteer gigs, type of vehicle, areas of study. Also drill deep into how they think and see how hung up on "fairness" they are.

One last bit. James Dobson says a son's relationship with his father is a great way to gage how well he will get along with his employer. Not many liberal sons (or daughters) get the "do it 'cause I said so" or "I'll beat your butt if you don't, that's why" philosophy of child rearing.

A job is seldom fair, bosses are seldom nurturing and explanatory, and coworkers are frequently mean. It's life, and liberals can rarely hack it without blaming someone else and suing. Conservative parents seem to do a better job of preparing their kids for the workplace. And why not? We like working, we find value in supporting ourselves and our families, and we don't think anyone owes a thing.