Please weigh in on hiring rules

[Anonymous]

I work at a hospital. My boss had an interview today that went poorly...candidate left her earbuds in throughout the interview and was texting on her phone. Boss called HR to tell them the candidate was not a good fit and HR refused to accept this reason, and said if boss didn't have a legally watertight reason to reject the candidate HR would be extending an offer.
Is this seriously how hiring works now??? Obviously we have a shortage of applicants in Healthcare but I thought hiring managers were allowed to pick their employees. Boss just seemed resigned about it.

[Anonymous]

That's ridiculous, but I would argue with HR that not paying attention and texting during the interview is a legally watertight reason. In the healthcare field this could lead to disastrous patient outcomes. Boss needs to make it clear that "not a good fit" was a euphemism for lacking the ability to do the job.

[Anonymous]

Wait, what?? Did he tell them exactly what happened?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Boss said there is a drop down menu of reasons to reject a candidate which consists of excessively late to interview, not qualified, selected other candidate and "didn't pay attention" isn't on the list. Since there were no other applicants there is pressure to take whoever comes along.

[Anonymous]

Is this candidate a POC? HR might need to extend an offer to them to fulfill DEI quotas.

[Anonymous]

There are liability concerns here and that’s what the boss needs to focus on, in writing in an email so there’s documentation. I’d bet HR will change their tune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Boss said there is a drop down menu of reasons to reject a candidate which consists of excessively late to interview, not qualified, selected other candidate and "didn't pay attention" isn't on the list. Since there were no other applicants there is pressure to take whoever comes along.

There's your problem. Boss needs to push for higher salary and different job description so you get more and better applicants.

But no, in my workplace HR does not decide that the boss has to hire someone. Boss feels that pressure because having a vacancy slows down the work. If your boss actually didn't want to hire this person, he could have selected not qualified.

[Anonymous]

I would say they are not qualified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at a hospital. My boss had an interview today that went poorly...candidate left her earbuds in throughout the interview and was texting on her phone. Boss called HR to tell them the candidate was not a good fit and HR refused to accept this reason, and said if boss didn't have a legally watertight reason to reject the candidate HR would be extending an offer.
Is this seriously how hiring works now??? Obviously we have a shortage of applicants in Healthcare but I thought hiring managers were allowed to pick their employees. Boss just seemed resigned about it.

This isn't how hiring works now. This is how lazy HR has always worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are liability concerns here and that’s what the boss needs to focus on, in writing in an email so there’s documentation. I’d bet HR will change their tune.

HR leader here and this is the right answer. Boss should send a detailed email describing, objectively/factually, what they observed in the interview, and then in the following paragraph clearly describe concerns about it with regard to productivity, engagement and/or patient outcomes....depending on what's most relevant for the role.

Then express a desire to keep looking for a better candidate. HR should not force this hire. If it happened to me, I would probably cut the interview short and wish the candidate well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this candidate a POC? HR might need to extend an offer to them to fulfill DEI quotas.

My thought too and I'm an attorney

[Anonymous]

I would say they are not qualified.

This. Paying attention during an interview and being able to interact with people is a minimum qualification for almost any job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this candidate a POC? HR might need to extend an offer to them to fulfill DEI quotas.

My thought too and I'm an attorney

If you were, you’d know quotas are illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Boss said there is a drop down menu of reasons to reject a candidate which consists of excessively late to interview, not qualified, selected other candidate and "didn't pay attention" isn't on the list. Since there were no other applicants there is pressure to take whoever comes along.

There's your problem. Boss needs to push for higher salary and different job description so you get more and better applicants.

But no, in my workplace HR does not decide that the boss has to hire someone. Boss feels that pressure because having a vacancy slows down the work. If your boss actually didn't want to hire this person, he could have selected not qualified.

OP here...I don't know where you've been the last few years but no one wants to work 40 hours a week in person for basically any amount of money. This is a well-paid job but it is shift work at a hospital and someone has to do it.
Boss said she stated the case to HR but they will be extending the offer anyway and explained it as "HR wants who they want." She doubts the candidate will make it 90 days.