Implications of Partner A interviewing Partner B

Nismo

Nismo

Nismo

Soldato
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
18,543
Location
UK
Hi all,

This may be a relatively simple/non-question, but I can't find a straight answer via Google.

A management position has come up within my team. It is internally advertised only at the moment. The obvious candidate is Partner A. Coincidentally, Partner B (i.e. the husband of Partner A) also happens to be the Director for this specific area in the company, and so is highly likely to be involved with the recruitment process.

Does this qualify as a potential conflict of interest? If I applied for said position and was interviewed by Partner B, should I feel aggrieved that they are also interviewing their spouse Partner A, or just trust that they handle things in a professional manner?
 
Yes, it's a conflict of interest. However, if the company is small, you may not be able to avoid it. If you're in a large company, many have rules against family being in the chain of command.
 
It depends on the size of company but I could never employ or have a member of my family under my supervision or vice versa or be involved in their recruitment, though I could put them forward for a role.
 
It's a large FE college, so not a small company.

This is all hypothetical, it's not unreasonable to assume that this situation has already been given thought by HR and will be avoided. Just wondered what the general opinion of this was as I've never known this case happen at my place of work before, and with me potentially being an applicant, I want to be clear about what is "right" or "wrong" should I need to query it.

Both people do currently reside in the same department, however the person in the lower position was in place much longer before the Director was appointed, and there are 2 levels of management currently between them anyway, so thus far no problems have occurred other than the occasionally jokey comment from other staff about preferential treatment from top-down.
 
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I'm surprised that you have to ask. Of course it's a conflict of interest. If anything I'd be asking that either a different manager, or the boss of partner B do the interview.

I'm not sure that having a close relationship at work AND ad home is in any way beneficial to a healthy relationship either.
 
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