No, I don't think that's ethical at all..in a circumstance like that, you should go on who works harder or some other criterion, but not on who would work for less...that's just being cheap and taking advantage of that employee.

Angela, 18
Bella Vista, AR  USA

Yes--as long as you have no intention of paying less than the fair market value for the employee's skills.

Jill, 61
Saylorsburg, PA  USA

I'm sure companies choose the employee willing to work for less cash. the bottom line is the dollar.

Janet, 44
E. Brunswick, NJ  USA

If you want a weasily little beggar working for you, sure. Actually, if they're equal in every way why not?

Alias Irrelevante

If they are equally qualified, it is probably a good business decision, but some common sense if needed. If the person is hired/promoted at a salary far lower than his or her peers, it will cause great dissatisfaction later on.

Jane, 62
West Linn, OR   USA

I think it is rare that you have two so equally qualified candidates. Ultimately, one of them will have a better personality, or you will click with more. Or, there will be one trait or quality that will make the person win out over the other. One will have more seniority or more team attitude or work harder. If they truly are so equal you could pick either one, then of course the one who offered to do the job for less. My experience has been people don't accept a salary that they can not live with. Is it ethical to choose the man over the woman? The smarter person over the dumber one (given they both can do the job)? Etc . . ..

Felicia, 36
Lowell, MA   USA

I suppose ethics doesn't enter into it much. Though...it depends some on the financial state of the business or department that is doing the hiring. It makes business sense to spend less money. For instance if you had a literal duplicate of your candidate and one wanted 40/hr and the other wanted only 20/hr, any businessperson with an ounce of common sense would take option number 2. Personally, I'd have to play eeni meenie minie mo. But that's just

Firelady, 24
Dallas, TX   USA

Interesting question. I think it probably would be if everything else were equal. The object of a business is to make money, after all. I don't think it would be ethical if one were more qualified, or had seniority.

Judy, 61
Easton, KS   USA

if they are equally qualified, it makes business sense to hire the one that will settle for less money. as far as being ethical.... when was the last time you saw most businesses behave ethically? they will hire the cheaper version every time.

Maggie, 22
Sandwich, IL   USA

business and ethics reside in two differant worlds, i'm afraid. take it from a kid that works construction.

A-Dog, 19
McMinnville, OR  USA

Sure, its ethical. It only makes sense.

Talia, 24
Wilton, CT   USA

I don't think it's ethical but I know it's done quite frequently in business today. I guess it's considered good business-sense.

Fisch, 46
Preston, CT   USA

Ethical, no ... Good Business, possibly, depending on the likelyhood of loosing the other employee, and how important you rate maintining a good reputation as an employer, in relation to saving the company a few thousand a year.

Alice, 21
Winchester  UK

Speaking economically, it's better to hire the one who's willing to work for less money. It isn't even unethical if the person is just as skilled as the person asking for more money. One should not consider the asking wages first, but if the choice is between two equally qualified people, then asking wages can be considered.

Jack

Yes, because the individual who is willing to work for less money must actually need the job more. In today's economy, it's hard to decipher what is wrong and what is right...if the one employee is not willing to work for less money, he/she must not need the job very much.

Melodi, 19
Gahanna, OH    USA

If they are both completely equally qualified, there has to be some criteria or reason to keep one or the other if both are not needed. I guess financial reasons would be one of them. Taking all other possibilities into consideration and coming up with two completely equal employees or potential employees, I think it would be ethical to base the final decision on the financial goals of the company.

Doug2, 29
Overland Park, KS  USA

Of course not. But if they're equally qualified, willingness to work for less is going to be attractive to an employer.

Karen, 22
Ames, IA   USA

Of course it is, especially in the capitalist system. Having said that, it is also incumbent upon the employer to pay a fair wage.

Laura, 37
Lowell, MA    USA

It's not ethical, no, but it happens all too often. Maybe that's how women got to be so numerous in the work force. When women first started coming out to work, they were NEVER paid as much as a man.

Reba, 50+
Silver Spring, MD  USA

If they are equally qualified, sure. Why not?

Nicci, 27
Las Vegas, NV   USA

That's a confusing question, but no.

Keri-Jade, 21
Brampton, Ontario  CANADA

My first impulse is to say yes, it's perfectly ethical. But upon considering it, it does seem somewhat wrong. But I don't know what else could be done.

Johanna, 18
OK  USA

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