Dear Law School Ethicist;
My spouse and I are professional people with good jobs. Recently, an out of town firm has made an offer to my spouse who has told the firm no unless the same firm gives me a job comparable to the one I have. They have agreed even though it means by-passing their usual hiring process designed to find the best qualified candidates and to encourage equal opportunity. Is it ethical for me to accept their offer even though it means legitimizing a process that is unfair to others in that it favors me only because of my choice of spouse?
I never understood why the hiring of a spouse (unless he’s head and shoulders above other candidates – and that has never happened at any institution where we’ve done this) is legal. Isn’t that sex discrimination? The people who aren’t married to the faculty member aren’t eligible for the job. I thought that you’d apply the same analysis as to why dating students is forbidden. It’s favorable treatment for one person and a disadvantage for everyone else. How is that legal?
ReplyDeleteThe ethical issue is with the law school not the spouse, I should imagine.
I never understood why the hiring of a spouse (unless he’s head and shoulders above other candidates – and that has never happened at any institution where we’ve done this) is legal. Isn’t that sex discrimination? The people who aren’t married to the faculty member aren’t eligible for the job. I thought that you’d apply the same analysis as to why dating students is forbidden. It’s favorable treatment for one person and a disadvantage for everyone else. How is that legal?
ReplyDeleteThe ethical issue is with the law school not the spouse, I should imagine.