This was originally posted on June 18, 2013 as “Always Look For These Ten Hidden Agenda Items†and has been selected and edited as an example of ethical foundations for moral decisions. A quote from Socrates: “A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.â€
In any aspect of human resources we are expected to be totally unbiased in our decisions, advice, and recommendations. Bias is a relative terminology. Honestly getting in touch with our own annoyances and pet peeves is a good first step in a therapeutic cleansing of our filters, but the part that remains unknown to us can scratch the surface in someone else and unleash a volcano. Our hidden agenda are usually not overt actions to deceive someone else, but are the evolution of ethical thinking based on various moral precepts. Some of them are hidden from ourselves and are a subconscious conditioned reflex action. Recognizing the obvious may be one step in asking ourselves the tough questions for discovering and analyzing our unknown hidden agenda.
- Racism – We all know that there is some sort of racial discrimination practiced almost everywhere, but it is true that some people bring up race as an issue when it is a diversion from the real issue. The truth is that it does not really matter if there is a bona fide problem. If someone believes there is a problem then there is in fact a problematic situation. One test of a hidden bias is your ability to discuss racial issues honestly with someone with a different ethical environment. It is not so much a factor of courage to talk frankly with someone of another race if you are not afraid that something inappropriate will slip out.
- Sexism – When you discuss a matter as a “woman’s issue†is it really gender related or could it really be a “’parental issue†that has been arbitrarily assigned to motherhood by commonly accepted moral standards? Some things attributed to sex may be due to biological differences, but sometimes biology places us in an uncomfortable situation. There is no getting around the fact that men relate to men in the workplace differently than they do to women. And vice versa. There are fewer women in C-Suite positions, but is that reality a source of frustration to women or is it more personal. If we do not look for equality in pay and other business related treatment of women and men then we fail at being unbiased.
- Sexualism – Sexual orientation is not a new factor for bias. In HR we create and administer policies without regard for the sexual preferences of employees or applicants, but that conscious action may mask hidden bias that may still lurk under the skin. Do you actively seek GLBT candidates for employment or is it just supposed to happen? This community has been stigmatized into hiding their sexual orientation and only in recent times has finally been able to be open about it. Even so, the ethical basis of bias that calls some activities taboo has ingrained concepts in our thoughts that are hard to erase.
- Pseudo-intellectualism – Elitism due to perceived intellectual superiority is probably more difficult to overcome than some of the more overt hidden ethical foundations. A problem arises when earned excellence in a field of expertise gives rise to a notion that there is some sort of global expertise in other areas as well and reliance on “appeal to authority†gives bad answers. A PhD chemist is not an expert in human resources. Beyond the unconscious dismissal and disrespect for other people’s professions, an unbiased viewpoint means seeing the people around us as people. Did you look at the waiter at that restaurant or was he just another faceless peon cluttering your life? We do not try to be rude intentionally, but it happens.
- Aestheticism – Beauty is often considered more important that any moral values. It is a fact that in hiring, an attractive candidate will have a greater likelihood of getting the job. Part of this is not unrealistic, because the beautiful people were more popular in school. This is where superficial looks feed the immature minds of students giving confidence, poise and leadership characteristics to the most popular. Is it any wonder that uber-confidence still shines though when the yardstick is not looks but talent?  Empathizing with the “invisibles†reveals how shallow this ethical foundation can be.
- Nationalism – This is not the same as patriotism. It is a high school mentality that my team is better than your team. In the US there is a serious political discussion regarding equality based on national origin or ethnicity, but in addition to the real problem are the ignored problems. Immigrations issues aside, there is a difference in perceptions regarding an applicant who struggles with the English language. Is that caused by intelligence or environment? You can see the shock and surprise on the faces of many Americans when they hear a Black person speaking Dutch in Amsterdam. In the United States we have much to be proud of, but there is a real reason for the term “Ugly American†when we travel abroad.
- Traditionalism – All of us have traditional values. These are the beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation. They include religion or a stated form of anti-religious belief. Customs differ from country to country and are different in different regions of a country. New Englanders who have never traveled to the Southern US speak about Southerners as if they all have a country bumpkin impression. Those from the South, by the way, have a few words about the damn Yankees. Seemingly harmless misstatements of fact are hurtful. Feigned intelligence at the expense of another culture has an opposite impact than intended.
- Behaviorism – The way a person acts can be consistent with our way of thinking or can be totally out of line. Being out of line is not always a bad thing because it could be representative of someone else’s ethical norm. We all live in our little glass houses and armed with stones are likely to outwardly question or gossip about those who are different. What is the accepted definition of strange behavior? In a job interview, both candidates and interviewers come from different places and in this most important moment of communication need to behave “normally†according to the other person’s normal. We need to value the differences in ethical values that people bring to a solution rather than showing a preference for clones of ourselves.
Studying these points and other thing that creep into our daily lives can give us a better idea of our unknown hidden agenda and the ethical evolution that created them. If knowing the problem is half the battle what is the other half? Sincerely making a conscious effort to uncover and fix the problem is next. That this is easier said than done.
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