Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership in her advice column “ Got a Minute? ” This week: two people hired for the same role, how transparent you should be with your employer when searching for a new job, and a disjointed PhD experience. Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership Credit: Dionne Gain I was hired for a senior role in a well-known company. After I joined, I realised they recruited another person for the same position; she started a month later.
Our team leader then announced only one person would be chosen to take over the position. While there I faced constant criticism, an overload of work and isolation. While lost and confused, I kept silent so I didn’t rock the boat.
They terminated my employment within my probation period and replaced me with a junior. Is this ethical to hire two people for the same position and promote unnecessary conflicts and competition? Loading Run as fast as you can. While it was a brutal way to find out, you have dodged a bullet by getting out of there.
No, I don’t think it is ethical to hire two people for the same position and put them through a Hunger Games scenario without telling them beforehand. The whole thing seems very bizarre. I always remind myself that in most cases, organisations aren’t smart enough to go into something like this with a clear plan in mind.
It is much more common there is an incompetent manager somewhe.