AIBU to stop my Dsis getting an interview?

[Ahhh1234]

So I feel awful to the point I could cry! My sister has applied to my work place for a role that would be in my department and she would be sitting a few seats away.

HR called and asked if I minded her being interview for the position. I said I minded. The reasons being:

1. In every job she's had in the past 4/5 years she's been fired due to her calling in sick, tensions in her teams etc
2. She's very confrontational and doesn't like authority.
3. She doesn't make friends easily
4. If there was a disagreement between her and someone I don't want it to reflect badly on me.
5. I love where I work and get on with everyone so I don't want to rock the boat.

So AIBU to say no to her getting an interview?

I'm surprised at the responses. I'm friends with someone I met at work, and as an employee she's... not ideal. But I love her. When she applied for a job at my new workplace I didn't sabotage it, and would never have advised them not to interview her. That seems so low.

DailyMail, did you read point 1 of the OP's OP?!

OP re the ball, yes, I'd be worried as well tbh. Probably have a chat with her in general about not drinking too much - don't let on that you know about the application

also she should have said she was applying really.

I didn't get a kick out of telling HR I had a problem with it. I feel awful but I'm thinking of my career. I know 100% if she was hired there would be some sort of conflict somewhere down the line. Id have to work directly with her. I wouldn't have so much of a problem if it was a different department where I have no dealings with her.

How odd, she must have mentioned it on her application form, I can’t imagine doing that!

Yea I know, I don't know why you would mention that on your application. Hopefully the ball goes ok tomorrow

We recruit in the same way. If someone puts you as a reference, or says you recommended them, HR calls to check. You are right to decline if you feel she isn’t a good fit, as she used your name in the application without your permission.

My work has a section on the application to mention if you know/ are related to anyone already working for the company. Perhaps that’s how?

Yanbu

If she gets drunk and/or acts inappropriately at the ball, she may put herself out of the running anyway.

I confess I’m rather surprised at so many posts suggesting this is fine. I don’t agree. If the OP’s sister appears on paper to have the skills and experience required, she should be interviewed and then judged on her merits along with everyone else. That will include taking up references.

Why did you ask her to the ball if she behaves so badly??

I think how she behaves at the ball will depend on whether she's been given a response to her application. If she's still waiting, she'll probably be okay and trying to impress. If HR have told her, and it's a no thank you, she'll have nothing to lose. Might be worth asking HR if they can tell you.

Eek I would be worried about the ball. Can you get conveniently ill?

Also YANBU.

If she behaves badly, she won't be getting an interview. I might be encouraging her to drink.

the OP’s sister appears on paper to have the skills and experience required, she should be interviewed and then judged on her merits along with everyone else

But fifthtime businesses just don’t work like that. They could have 30 applicants for a position all of whom on paper appear to have the required skills and experience. Yet the CV isn’t the only consideration and of course an interview won’t tell you much about whether this applicant works well with others or has had performance issues in the past and references nowadays tend to stick to “X worked in this role from .... to .... Of course if they have a trusted employee who knows the person under consideration they might ask for their views, it’s just another way of filtering down the applicants.

I think this is perfectly ok. I work in a small office of 4 people. Whenever we hire new people we give the candidate a tour of the premises and show her the office so we can all meet potential colleagues. After our managers have interviewed they ask us our opinions on our meetings. They don't decide just on our feedback but they take it into consideration.
When teamwork is important to success (and when is it ever not?) personality is almost as important as qualifications and employers are right to get as much info about candidates as possible.
YANBU

I'm amazed that anyone is surprised or disapproving about companies quietly sounding out staff about job applicants they know. It would be stupid for them not to! It works both ways- I've got more than one interview in the past because of a recommendation or unofficial reference from someone on the inside.
And also, it's entirely sensible for them to check if there are likely to be any issues between two members of staff who are already connected working together. Imagine if your ex who had made your life hell suddenly turned up in your team. Your working life would be destroyed, you'd probably start looking for another job, and in the meantime the balance of the whole team would be affected. I'd go so far as to say that the company owe the existing employee a duty of care in that situation.

It is this sort of thing that can (rightly) get employers into all sorts of difficulties with equalities legislation, so in my view sensible employers will protect themselves against that by having watertight recruitment practices in which decisions are made against objective criteria.

In this case, the OP’s sister has clearly had a number of jobs in the last 4/5 years. That should set alarm bells ringing and questions at an interview and requests to former employers for references can be used to probe for many reasons info.

Also, even with her imperfections, the OP’s sister might actually be the best candidate for the job. They might end up with someone worse!

Why are people so shocked? Everywhere I have worked, if they know someone has worked along side someone/knows them personally, they'll ask for an informal reference, usually not along the lines of "can they do the job?" (as they can get that from formal referencing) but more "will they fit in with the team?"

I've also usually worked in places with schemes to give you a bonus if you recommend someone and they get hired. But then I've generally worked in roles where it's not a group of people all doing their own thing along side each other, but having to work together, so matching personalities and 'fitting in' matters.

OP - you weren't wrong to say this - it would reflect badly on you if she turned out to be a bad hiring choice.

oh and while they could end up with someone worse, that won't reflect badly on the OP, who rightly or wrongly, will be seen as responsible for her sister. It would be very hard to be seen as not involved if there's a personality clash between the sister and managers, even if the OP doesn't actively get involved. If they want to fire the sister, the OP's feelings may be taken into consideration (the fear she'll be pissed off and want to leave too).

OP - I would be finding an excuse to avoid the ball if I was you, or at least not take your sister. If she's that bad when drunk, why have you decided to bring her into your work sphere?! Just keep her separate.

I have been asked my opinion at least three times - no actually four I think by a senior manager recruiting into our team who has seen applicants have worked where I did. Do I know them, would I recommend them etc. it doesn’t mean they won’t interview if I say anything less than positive. It just gives them insight from someone they trust. I try to be as balanced as possible. I know a few people I like very much but I wouldn’t want to work with.

If the sister really is as bad as the OP makes out, it's kind of an academic question anyway, because she would struggle to provide good references, so there's bound to be a better applicant that will get the job instead.

Yanbu- I also think it's to be expected that employers check you out snd that employers would check on how an existing employee feels about working with family. The horror of my family at my work gives me reflexive shudders.

References mean nothing anymore. In my experience employers are starting to get nervous about providing anything other than a bland reference which is positive where it can be, or even which only gives dates of employment. So no wonder places are asking informally to find out more.

I cant remember filling in an application where I havent been asked if I am related to or know anyone working for the business, I always assumed this was in case of any conflict of interests beween personal and business life.

I would have done the same, she sounds like she would have been a nightmare to work with and would make your family relations difficult too if she kicked off and expected you to back her up.

Like you say, different if she wasn in your team, but in the same room? No way! And what if you got promoted above her? Cant see that ending well!