Would you hire someone of opposite political opinion?

[NotNowNever]

You look at their CV and it's full of references - volunteering for campaigns, fund raising etc - for their support of a political party you're not very fond of...how do you view their CV?

Do you look for reasons not to employ them?

I value diversity in the workplace, so yes, of course I would.

As in, yes, I would hire them if they were right for the job.

If the job is helping people on low incomes or with disabilities and they’ve campaigned for Tory then they might not be a good fit. Same if you’re working with refugees and the party is UKIP.

If the candidate is going to be working as a surveyor or an architect or accountant, then why would their political leanings have any bearing on how well they can do their job?

What is closer is that the person thinks that the role is politicized when it very much isn't - it is politically neutral but they seem more focused on the politics than anything else. The basis of their covering letter and their CV revolved around politics.

Surely you don’t interview them because they don’t meet the job spec and haven’t tailored their application, not actually to do with their politics, would be the same if they’d banged on about dog grooming when that wasn’t anything to do with the role.

@NotNowNever

What is closer is that the person thinks that the role is politicized when it very much isn't - it is politically neutral but they seem more focused on the politics than anything else. The basis of their covering letter and their CV revolved around politics.

Well then they haven't tailored their application to the job description. That is enough reason to count them out for a non-political role.

Misunderstanding the nature of the role would be a problem even if it was the party you also support, surely?

Yes misunderstanding the role is a problem - but I was just curious as to how other people would approach it. Whether they could put their prejudices aside.

Whether they could put their prejudices aside
You have to if you are involved in recruitment. If you can't do this then you shouldn't be involved in the process.

I'd be concerned they hadn't understood the role, if they were trying to bring a political debate into a job working in a supermarket or bank for example. But I do my absolute best to put any bias, conscious or unconscious, aside when I'm recruiting.

If it's your company, you don't have to put your political views aside. It's not unlawful to discriminate against someone for their political views.

They name dropped knowing quite a few well known politicians. I think they expected we would belong to a particular political leaning due what we do and that would gain them favour.

It would also depend on the job role/organisation. I recruit on a values based recruitment and people recruited have to demonstrate various personal qualities. If they were a member of a far right political group I would doubt they had those qualities. However someone who was just a big standard Tory.....while I wouldn’t agree with them I wouldn’t have an issue with.

While you’re at it check their age, race and whether they have children, may as well make a fully rounded decision on hiring.
Short of being part of the kkk you can’t discriminate

Yes I would , but I was running a museum on evolution, I expect them to have knowledge on the subject and not talk to people about creationism during their job. Since it is not about God and creationism.

If they otherwise met the job description, I would interview them but make clear to them that it is not a politically affiliated organisation.

It sounds like the applicant misunderstood the role. But I wouldn't employ someone based on their politics. I've worked for a number of religious organisations, I hope no one would write my CV off because of my beliefs! If the person has the skills but they use their experience in politics to demonstrate those skills then that's not a bad thing.

I work in private wealth and we did a lot of strategy planning for clients around the risk of a Corbyn government. If someone applied with lots of references to having worked in his campaign I don’t think they’d be barred from interview but they would be heavily grilled on interview as to their motivations to work with ultra high net worths. Is that the sort of thing you mean Op?

My sister was offered a job at planned parenthood and she is a Christian who went to liberty University and doesn't believe in abortion. So of course she turned down the job. But if she did accept the job, she probably will be fired on the spot . I know religion is different from politics but sometimes it isn't.

@RaspberryToupee

If the job is helping people on low incomes or with disabilities and they’ve campaigned for Tory then they might not be a good fit. Same if you’re working with refugees and the party is UKIP.

If the candidate is going to be working as a surveyor or an architect or accountant, then why would their political leanings have any bearing on how well they can do their job?

Surely the home office responsible for defending our borders should be full of people from UKIP?

No it doesn't matter their political leaning it is how well they do the job. I don't really read CV's anyway for this reason they do well at competency based job interviews then that is fine. Aren't CV's largely made up anyway or at least mild propaganda/fiction.

If they were any good, yes.

It doesn't sound like they would be a good fit. Sometimes being open with your politics in work is not appropriate.

For example, when working for a local authority you should not allow your own personal politics to be broadcast to customers / users. You should be impartial for the most part, and deal with and work alongside councillors fairly appropriately regardless of their political party.

Depends on the job. I used to be a lobbyist for a charity - by law, charities are required to be party politically neutral. I have my political opinions, but I had to be able to put them aside in working hours and work with politicians of all parties. So if you suspect that a candidate might not be able to do that, they may not be the best person for the job.

Raspberry I can't believe you wrote that.
I had severely disabled brother and I can tell you now, my mum and I and he suffered under a labour government! The indignity she went through with him and mindless questions that were upsetting and insulting.

Rosa Monckton said, with Gordon brown and David Cameron you would think they would be pushing for more help, support and humanity for those with disabilities..
No.

Child poverty grew under the Labour Party. They admitted time and time again they failed this pledge.
Their policies let down millions of children and that momentum also hit the credit crash wave, driving people to food banks. They don't spring up over night!
Austerity went too far and compounded the problem.
Most people want the same aims FGS but they think they are achievable through different routes.

I'd be more concerned that they thought it important enough to put on their CV. Whatever party it was.