Should I hire him?

[Lambstu]

Hi, I work in the pharmaceuticals industry and our HR dept is useless so not sure where to get advice. I am hiring for a position and the only applicant is hated by a current employee. The applicant looks good on paper, and has previously worked at the company so has good experience. I’m inclined to hire him. I know that it will cause an issue for my current employee though as she has told me in the past of the problems she had with him (personality clash, perhaps he did overstep it a few times but I think she should be able to get past that as it didn’t seem like the situations she described were a massive deal) and she has said that she would never be able to work with him again. I know if I hire him she will be unhappy. Would she be able to raise a grievance against me for hiring him? Or go off long term
sick with stress? Can I just tell her it’s happening and ask her to get on with it / make the most of it.

i think some recent posters are getting a bit carried away. No one has complained. She doesn’t know he has applied. She hasn’t threatened to leave as she doesn’t know he has applied. No one is holding me to ransom.

I know, from previous conversations, that she really does not want to work with him again, but there aren’t many of him around as he does a fairly niche role and has specific qualifications.

I take on board the ideas about telling her quietly and in advance of a big announcement, and about supporting her if possible. Thanks for the suggestions.

Not sure if ONE person qualifies a a track record but if that's your take. Okay.

One is a track record. Failure to manage even one person is acceptance of behaviour and starts to develop a culture where toxic behaviour is tollerated/accepted.

One is not a track record. There used to be no track if it's a single episode.
A single poor experience with a single employee is not a track record. Multiple positive experiences with all the other employees is a track record.

Often people do not formally complain if they don't like a person. They just leave. There may be more than her leaving if he is not well liked.

A year on, dies anyone know how it ended?

Be careful what you wish for. You could possibly have to manage a rude, obnoxious, dickhead of a man who will rub not only you but the rest of the team up the wrong way. Could also be gunning for your role if he is senior. Or she could be exaggerating and he might be fine.

You say you wouldn't miss her if she left, hut sometimes it's better the devil you know, and as a manager it is better to have a happy team, rather than a dickhead coming in and upsetting everyone else.

Ffs. I didn't realise this was a zombie thread. Need to look at the dates more.

If you don't want to keep toyr existing member if staff, as you clearly have no respect for her, go ahead.

Would be interested in how this one played out in the end!

@Lambstu - did you hire him in the end?
How did it work out if so?