Sonya P
04-09-2012, 10:58 AM
Hi HR Buzzers,
I'm hoping you can help me answer a question.
My partner is interviewing candidates for a key customer facing relationship management position and he is aware that one of the internal candidates is taking long service leave next year and will be away for several months.
He was wondering if he could discount this candidate on that basis, given that this is a customer facing role and he believes that staffing consistency is very important. Basically he doesn't want someone joining the team whom he knows will then disappear for several months just when they have come up to speed. He would have to hire a temporary replacement and is concerned that this will not go down well with the customers.
He is still waiting for an answer from his own HR dept.
My view is that consistent staffing in this particular role is an operational need of the business and so warrants rejection of the person who is taking extended leave next year. However I would welcome the views of other experienced HR experts :)
I'm hoping you can help me answer a question.
My partner is interviewing candidates for a key customer facing relationship management position and he is aware that one of the internal candidates is taking long service leave next year and will be away for several months.
He was wondering if he could discount this candidate on that basis, given that this is a customer facing role and he believes that staffing consistency is very important. Basically he doesn't want someone joining the team whom he knows will then disappear for several months just when they have come up to speed. He would have to hire a temporary replacement and is concerned that this will not go down well with the customers.
He is still waiting for an answer from his own HR dept.
My view is that consistent staffing in this particular role is an operational need of the business and so warrants rejection of the person who is taking extended leave next year. However I would welcome the views of other experienced HR experts :)