Back to Latest Posts

Ethics in the Search Field

We all have a story!

It's hard to pick up the paper today without seeing another article on Petters, Madoff, or any number of individuals or companies that have not behaved 'ethically.' Ethics issues are all around us.

But . . . . ethics in the search field?

In the search field, ethical concerns are very important. Sadly, most professionals we know have a horror story to tell. Are search firms to blame? Are corporations? Are candidates? I would have to say it is the firms - and the lack of clear discussion around common ethical issues that can harm all aspects of the search and the relationship with the client and candidates. Our goal in this entry and others in the future will be to address the multitude of ethical issues that are all too common in the search field. We are anxious to engage you in this dialogue. E-mail us your thoughts - to david@www.abelnmagy.com/.

What are the 'issues' that need discussing?

  • Off-Limits
    • Time
    • Reach
    • Incoming Calls
    • Placed Candidates
  • Dual or Parallel Processing
  • Conflicting Searches
  • Confidentiality
  • Sourcing Under False Pretenses
  • Discrimination

Let's start with Off-Limits

Simply put, an Off-Limits policy is an agreement that a search firm can NOT recruit from your company and/or any of your subsidiaries for a pre-agreed period of time. There is sadly no standard for this area in the industry. It is up to each firm and their individual client organization to create this Off-Limits policy for their work together. Off-Limits discussions need to take place - and in four distinct areas.
  1. How long should a client be off-limits - and when does the clock start?
  2. Is it the entire company - or just a single location, department or function?
  3. Should there be a policy in place for potential candidates from a client company that call into the search firm because of a search they are aware of at a different company?
  4. And, last and certainly not least, what about the candidate that the search firm places? Should they have a separate policy/agreement?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The correct answer is having the discussion. While not a scientific poll, I can say that this topic rarely surfaces in client discussions. We as a firm need to bring it up more often; clients need to for their protection and understanding. Send your thoughts - and stay tuned for additional Ethics-related discussion points!

Categories