Workplace Politics

Quite a stir was caused by the recently released internal report of the Justice Department’s own inspector general and ethics office criticizing the manner in which the Bush administration has hired U.S Attorneys and other “career lawyers” in the Justice Department.  Liberals and Democrats were weeded out in favor of conservatives and Republicans.  Some of the liberals and Dems were, on paper, more qualified than the conservatives and Reps who ended up with the jobs.  Outrage was expressed.  The corruption of the Justice Department was grieved.  Politics had trumped qualifications for important jobs.  You’re kidding.

I’m all for hiring the most qualified candidate.  I’m all for eliminating politics from the hiring process.  I’m all for Justice Department lawyers’ making decisions based on the merits of a case, not its politics.  But let’s not get so carried away that the H-word becomes hypocrisy instead of honesty. 

The “spoils system” began with Andrew Jackson’s administration, and it has reined ever since in the world of politics.  Some administrations have been worse than others, but both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of hiring inferior candidates for all sorts of jobs because of politics.  The Justice Department hasn’t been free of spoils–politics, if you prefer. President Kennedy named his brother, Robert, as Attorney General.  Because he was most qualified or because he was the President’s brother?

Who works for the Senators and members of the House scandalized by this recent revelation about Justice Department hiring?  I’d guess a pretty high percentage of their employees are friends, financial supporters, and children of friends and financial supporters.  They do, of course, have some employees hired strictly because of their objective qualifications.   

What the Bush administration did is despicable.  It was way over the top, but the Jackson administration set a floor that’s hard to get below.  It’s ok to be critical, even outraged, but this isn’t the first time the Justice Department has been tainted by politics and won’t be the last.

What this should make us consider is the role politics plays in the normal workplace.  Human resources is charged with hiring the most qualified candidates.  How often is HR influenced by the C-Suite to make a political hire?  A lot–at least, too often.  The more significant the job, the more likely it is to happen.  How many top executives have reached their positions because of politics?  I’d guess the percentage is pretty high.  Before the employment world starts throwing stones at politicians, let’s consider our own glass houses.

We talk about hiring the best talent, talent management, best practices, and metrics.   Let’s also talk about workplace politics.  Let’s admit it’s part of the way we do business.  Let’s push for qualifications over politics.  Let’s avoid hypocisy, however.

One more thing.  Hiring the best candidate means the best work will be done.  It means employment problems will diminish.  It means employment disputes will be fewer, which means that charges and lawsuits will be manageable.  A word to the wise.

1. 

   Michael Fox says:

   July 4, 2008 at 12:50 pm

   I couldn’t agree more with the last paragraph which if followed would put quite a dint in the labor and employment law practice.

   The points are well made about political spoils, however, I had always thought most Justice Departments had made a very determined effort to distinguish between “political positions” (which of course start with the Attorney General) and “career positions.” I think the outrage is causesd by the degree that it was the latter positions that were alleged to have been compromised.
2. 

   John Phillips says:

   July 4, 2008 at 3:11 pm

   Thanks for your comment.

   Some of my commentary, if followed, would put a lot of us out of business. Of course, that’s true with a lot of advice all labor and employment lawyers give. I think HR gets it. Thankfully, for labor and employment lawyers. members of the C-Suite do not.

   You may be right about the way the Justice Department has tried to operate most of the time. I’m not sure, however. I think most administrations aren’t as blatant about it as the Bush folks were. There’s so much opportunity to use Justice for untoward purposes, I’m not sure the pols can resist. As I recall, during the Teapot Dome scandal, the Justice Department destroyed incriminting documents, resulting in at least one member of Justice committing suicide.

   Happy 4th.