A hypothetical question: What would you do?

You are the owner of a fine steakhouse that is about to open for business. The community is excited about it because there isn't another for miles. Pretty much a guarantee of high revenue. You are in the process of hiring your wait staff and upon interviewing, you learn that one of the very well qualified prospects is a vegetarian but wants to work knowing that the possibility of high tips are there.


Would you:


a) Hire this person without question or restriction.


b) Hire this person with the provision that they do not discuss their dietary choices and if the situation came up, recommend items on the menu even if it might be dishonest.


c) Do not hire this person based on a conflict of interest, inablility to promote and recommend key items on the menu and the chance of possibly making the customers uncomfortable.





This was a heated debate I had with a friend and I was just wondering what others might think. Thanks!

A hypothetical question: What would you do?
I'm between B and C. If the person can assure me that serving meat and recommending meals won't be a problem, then I'd probably the hire person. I'd be worried if the applicant volunteered his vegetarianism in the interview, though. That's just stupid. I'm running a steakhouse here. Are you trying to not get hired?
Reply:I have never known a vegetarian who could promote an aged rib eye that is nicely marbled or a thick lamb chop cooked medium rare. I wouldn't hire the person. I would hire the person who had actually sampled the food and could vouch for it, and do a great job selling it.
Reply:He might be Vegetarian because of an allergy etc-- Did you establish the reasons for his preferences? I would not consider him unfairly against the other Applicants .


I would not judge him on that one fact alone.
Reply:I personally don't know any vegetarians who could stomach serving platters of meat to customers. If the applicant listed this, it sounds important to her. Both she and you could make better choices.
Reply:I would hire this person with the provision that if they did not do the job well or they made the customers uncomfortable, they would no longer be employed by me.





I think that everyone deserves a chance but if they can't do they job to my satisfaction, then they would have to go. But I would make them understand the conditions before they took the job.
Reply:I would hire the person and explain the rules of employment before she/he begins the job. I do not see why being a vegetarian would even be an issue for his/her employment. Obviously the person just wants a job or they wouldn't have put in an application.
Reply:B. An employer has the right to ask if an applicant can perform the job he/she is applying for, e.g. if you apply for a warehouse job lifting 100 pound boxes you have to be able to lift 100 pounds.





Above, if the applicant will not do the job applied for the owner should not make the hire.
Reply:I am hiring wait help, I really don't care if they personally are a vegetarian, satanic cult member or a Protestant as long as they are qualified. I expect them to do the job, and will train them and everyone else the exact same way. If they cannot do the job as they were trained to do than they will be released before the end of their probation period. I am in it to make money and to give the best service to my guest at the restaurant. If their being a vegan gets in the way, see ya.
Reply:A) If the person is expecting high tips, then the person won't be trying to get people to not eat steak at a steakhouse. That's where the money is.Therefore, their vegetarianism is a non-issue.
Reply:A. What does it matter if they are vegetarian? If they wants to work at the steakhouse, I think the issue of being around meat is their own. And even if they discussed their dietary choices, what would it matter? People that go to steakhouses aren't vegetarians. I don't think they are going to change their minds about ordering a steak.
Reply:I would say B. I don't give a damn if the person I hire is a vegetarian, greek orthodox or scientologist. I care about his qualification and whether he can do his job well. However, there must be a condition that he does not make the customers uncomfortable.