A world-famous professor has criticised the Human Resources function, labelling it an “ethics department” that uses “unbelievably dangerous” hiring methods.
Speaking on last week’s episode of the popular podcast, Conversations with Tyler, Jordan B Peterson, a controversial Canadian academic, argued that programmes to improve diversity in business have also given HR departments more influence.
“All of a sudden now, they’ve become ethics departments,” he said. “And people who take to themselves the right to determine the propriety of ethical conduct end up with a lot more power?—?especially if you cede it to them?—?than you think. And that’s happening at a very rapid rate.
“The doctrines that are driving hiring decisions, for example?—?any emphasis, for example, on equity, or equality of outcome?—?it’s unbelievably dangerous.
“You don’t just pull that in and signal to society that you’re now acting virtuously without bringing in the whole pathological ideology.”
He went on to suggest that women do not face “unjust discrimination” in the workplace when compared to men. “That doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who still make stupid decisions about how to promote based on… qualities that have nothing to do with competence,” he said.
Despite Peterson’s claims, data suggests that a diverse working environment is highly beneficial to businesses. A 2017 study from EY and the Peterson Institute (which is not associated with Jordan B Peterson) found that bringing more women into higher management boosted profitability.
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A company with 30% female leadership could expect to add up to six percentage points to its net margin when compared with a similar business with no female leaders.
Additionally, companies viewed as ‘ethical’ have been found to be more popular with jobseekers – making it a key concern for HR. Almost half the workforce (42%) reported that they now want to work for an organisation that has a positive impact on the world, according to research carried out by consultancy Global Tolerance.
The desire to work for an ethical firm is even more pronounced among millennials: with 62% wanting to work for a company that makes a positive impact; half preferring purposeful work to a high salary; and, 53% reporting they would work harder if they were making a difference to others.
Peterson, a Canadian psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, rose to prominence in 2016 after releasing a series of YouTube videos attacking a Canadian law that would make it illegal to discriminate against transgender people.
Whilst he has garnered a large fan base, publishing a best-selling book on how to deal with life, he has views which include blaming depression on the consumption of non-meat food and being sceptical of climate change data.
Image Credit – Gage Skidmore
