A Mumbai-based startup founder has ignited a fierce online debate after rescinding a Rs 22 lakh per annum job offer to a highly promising candidate after the candidate failed a background check. According to Mohammed Ahmed Bhati, founder of Jobbie, he had discovered some derogatory comments made by the candidate on LinkedIn, targeting religious communities. Bhati asserted that "respect and basic decency matter to us more" than talent, underscoring that company values ultimately determine an employee's longevity.
Sharing the incident on LinkedIn, Bhati explained that the candidate had proactively reached out after seeing Jobbie's viral Reddit post, which detailed conducting 450 interviews for 12,000 applicants. He noted that the candidate was exceptionally impressive, even going so far as to create his resume using Jobbie's platform and offering suggestions for its improvement.
But, a routine final background check uncovered recent public comments from the candidate that were "derogatory towards religious communities." This discovery prompted Bhati to immediately withdraw the offer. "No matter how skilled someone is, respect and basic decency matter to us more," Bhati wrote, adding, "Talent gets you in the door. Values decide if you stay." Screenshots of both the offer and rejection letter were included in his post, sparking a flurry of reactions across social media.
Social media opinions stand divided
The founder's decision has sharply divided opinions online. Entrepreneur Tushar Srivastava was among the critics, arguing that revoking an offer based on social media activity exemplifies "cancel culture" and reflects "immature and insecure" leadership. Srivastava warned that such actions could expose a company's "vulnerable spots" and lead to negative repercussions, including potential "mass boycott," by using someone's "free speech" against them in a professional context.
Conversely, many users rallied in support of Bhati's stance. Atreyee Dasgupta questioned critics, asking, "I mean, would you be comfortable working with/under a racist/casteist or even a sexist? I know I would not." She emphasised that qualifications should not be the sole hiring parameter and highlighted that "companies generally have a zero tolerance policy against the same. It's better to reject candidates before they are hired and cause severe social and emotional damage to others." Gopal Kumar Burman echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of a "cultural round" in hiring and reflecting on the significance of such positions for freshers.
Meanwhile, some, like Varun Singh M, suggested a more nuanced approach. While acknowledging the candidate's strong interview performance, Singh felt that pulling back the offer solely due to a social media comment was "a bit extreme." He proposed that "a final warning and a chance to grow within a diverse team could’ve made a real difference," suggesting that the current move might foster resentment rather than understanding.
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