Biblical Business Radical: Maybe You Don't Want to Hire the Prostitute

[Originally published on Compassionate Business Radical blog also by this author]

 Okay, I got your attention. But here’s the “rub”: if an employee candidate is only interested in the wages and benefits, including hiring bonus, etc., maybe you don’t want to hire them. They will leave you for the next higher bidder. 

You hate it when customers reduce the negotiations to price “only”. They’re not interested in quality, technology, delivery, service, effortlesssness, etc. They just want the lower price. If that’s the only dimension in play against your competitors, you want to walk away. If the customer can’t appreciate the extra value (hence willing to pay more) on the other dimensions, then you should fire them.

If you take this principle for hiring, you shouldn’t hire people who only ask about the “price” you’re willing to pay for their labor. You want candidates who will recognize your value of providing choice (some autonomy), content (tailored job to fit their strengths and passions) and collaboration (working with other engaged—i.e. enthusiastic and committed—employees) and managers who help them make progress each day/week (the #1 method of increasing motivation). We know that money is a good incentive only for routine work. If that’s what you’re hiring then, like a commodity, you might have to compete on price. But if you’re trying to derive business success by tapping into people’s creativity, innovation, performance and process improvement, then you want to offer more than financial incentive.

So compete for the candidates who recognize that value. Certainly, it will take longer to fill the spot. But won’t you be better off than hiring a warm body to fulfill a need?

Additionally, since 80+% of people don’t like where they are currently working—and a significant portion is due to burnout, stress, management style, etc.—offering an employment experience that can counter some of that is also a plus.

Addition: In Isaiah, and several other scriptures, Israel and its leaders are rebuked for being harlots, chasing after bribes and rewards, sacrificing justice and righteousness for the want of prosperity. (1.21) Let's not let those seeking bribes and rewards drag us away from our internal values.