July/August Diversity Dilemma: Would You Switch Parties to Rise in the Ranks? Pam is the Organizational Development Manager working in the headquarters of a national home-building corporation, Home, Inc. This is her first professional experience as a member of the senior team. Her job requires that she sell her internal consulting skills to the executive leaders within each business unit. She has been excited and pleased with the reception she and her team have received from her internal executive clients. Results of her interventions are just beginning to be evident. However, a difficult dilemma has emerged that she never would have imagined. It is an election year and Pam has received an email invitation from her CEO to attend a fundraising event for the Republican Party. The invitation lists several more events to be held over the summer. The invitation says, "Your participation is totally voluntary, of course." Pam considers herself an Independent and supports progressive issues. She does not like the current Republican candidates. The day after the invitation was sent, one of Pam's close colleagues, another manager on the senior team, pulls her aside with this comment: "I've heard through the grapevine that if you do not donate to the Republican Party then you will not be viewed as a high-potential manager." Pam is torn on what to do. If you were Pam, what would you do? Options: Option 1: Do not attend any events or donate any money and keep doing an exemplary job. Option 2: Attend an event and donate a token amount of money in order to show that you are one of the team. Option 3: Approach colleagues in the Human Resource department and complain about the pressure on executives to donate to the Republican Party. Option 4: Request that the topic of the requested party donations be on the next executive team meeting. Be prepared to lead a conversation about the implied policy. Option 5: Update your resume and begin searching for a new opportunity where political donations by executives is not part of the culture. Option 6. Other: Read more: View the results of Jan/Feb 2007 Dilemma, A Promotion — is it because of Affirmative Action? View the results of Sep/Oct 2007 Dilemma, Pierced nose? Wild clothes? What to do with a productive "punk?" View the results of Jul/Aug 2007 Dilemma, What would you do in the face of an unclear law? View the results of May/Jun 2007 Dilemma, Who would you promote? A dilemma about class, merit, and identity View the results of Mar/Apr 2007 Dilemma, What to do about a speech impairment View the results of a previous Jan/Feb 2007 Dilemma, "Delivering the goods" without losing your integrity View the results of a previous Nov/Dec 2006 Dilemma, How would YOU handle negative feedback? back to top

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