Raylon Inc. needs to hire a new floor supervisor. As the company has recently made an effort to increase diversity within the organization, the HR team wants to hire a qualified female candidate for the role instead of adequately qualified male candidates. However, top management insists that optimal performance is the top priority and that the candidate hired should be the person best suited for the job. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen HR's case for hiring the female candidate?
A) There are nearly as many female employees on the floor as male employees.
B) The company has recently introduced policies that provide greater benefits for working and single mothers.
C) Most of the top-level managers in the company are female.
D) The company policy stipulates that each employee has to work at least one week per month on a night shift.
E) Both candidates have the qualifications required to perform up to expectations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If both candidates have the potential to perform up to expectations, hiring the female candidate will allow the company to increase diversity while maintaining its performance. The fact that there are almost as many female employees on the floor as male employees would indicate that the workforce was diverse as to gender and would weaken HR's argument. The company's increasing benefits for working mothers would weaken HR's case if the candidate has children but would not affect it if she does not. The fact that most top-level managers are female weakens HR's argument as this would indicate that the company does incorporate gender diversity. The requirement that employees work a night shift one week a month is irrelevant to the argument.