Question

John is a middle aged executive for a small company. They treat him well, but, unfortunately, cannot pay what he believes he is worth. Recently, he applied to a large international corporation for an executive position. After a phone interview, which went well, the prospect employer set up an interview at their corporate offices. They then e-mailed John a series of questions which would be part of their second interview. Surprisingly, there were several questions as to what cable television news shows he regularly watches and the magazines and/or subscriptions he receives either online or through the mail.

John considers himself an independent and does not belong to any one party. He, however, favors cable news shows that are considered liberal and receives an online subscription to The New Republic and New Yorker. If he admits to this information, he worries he will be “painted” as a liberal, a radical, or at least an intellectual. Although this information should NOT be important to his future job, the company would not ask these questions unless they had a reason for this information.

Therefore, John decides to lie to the interviewing committee and indicate he rarely watches cable news shows and mostly watches the sports networks and the movie channel with his wife.

Is John’s conduct wrong? Is it unethical to lie to obtain employment when you know the provided information will not affect your work product? After he is hired, should he “confess” he watches some cable news shows?

What do you do? What are your choices?

Answer 1

There is nothing wrong , as such in John’s conduct.

And it also not unethical when it is certainly known that the asked-for information will not affect his work product.

Hence , as such, there is no need to confess after he is hired.

The reasons being,

At the outset, he badly needs a change for a better , to what he is worth , which the current employment cannot genuinely provide.

John also feels that these information are not that relevant for the job , for which he is being considered .

Moreover, preferences & tastes are bound to keep on changing , with individuals , from time to time , & none is expected to stick to the one, which will hinder his/her self-progress or development.

As time passes by, we might have shifted to something else, other than what we held on to, in the past.

If at all,John comes across any challenging situation in this regard, after getting into this employment, he can politely, put his views on the above lines , and

at that time, if he feels , he may be questioned , he can rescind watching such type of shows & also de-subscribe from such channels.

All the above , in light of the fact that at present, he is not sure about the potential -employer's intentions /reasons for asking about his affiliations &

also that John should not lose the job , on account of his some private inclinations .

So,

given the situation, John's counter to the questions posed , is quite adequate.

They might have even asked,just to know , how he spends his free time --ie. May not be anything very serious.