Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • State Not Answered
  • Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 39 subscribers
  • Views 1673 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

Super Boss demands a personality test. Insult or a good idea?

Catwell

image

Yin Yang of our personalities. (via Cat's Creations - body and face paint)

 

Have you taken a personality test for a job?

 

A friend of mine was hired by a company about 8 months ago. Since then, he has become a vital part of the team. He can do so much more than anyone else in the company. He even makes parts for them in his home machine shop after hours.

 

As of last week, it has come to the attention of the higher-ups that he never took a personality test. For some reason, the top manager ("Super Boss") demands all employees to take one. (Side note: the manager also has cameras everywhere, including his own home. He sits and watches the video feeds all day apparently.)

 

My friend is considering an out-right refusal to take the test. Although technical merit is a good way to show usefulness to the company, the Super Boss may still demand the test.

 

Do you think that it is necessary or even ethical to ask an employee to take a personality test? After 8 months of excellent service, would it be an insult to now require the test?

 


 

 

The personality test is more of an assessment. There are no right or wrong answers. The evaluation comes under the guise of making sure the employee will fit the corporate culture.

 

Some "catch-22" personality test questions:

"Have you ever been mad at work, even for personal reasons?"

"Have you ever taken anything from the office, even a pen or paperclip?"

"Have you ever felt tired at the work place?"

 

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

  • 0

    Hi Cabe,

     

    I have taken a number of personality tests for various reasons, but nothing at the level you indicate here.

    Usually these types of tests are done as part of a team building exercise to help people working together better understand the personality of the others they are working with.  Most are innocuous and sometimes informative.

     

    However, the type of test you show here appears to be of a different nature.  Some people are total control freaks and sometimes abuse the information.

    I would use this type of test to see if they are really read and also ask to see the results in relation to the group.  One quick way to put management on the defensive is to ask to see the process they use and how it fits into the management decision space.  If management cannot explain or will not explain, then you know you are working at a temporary job and you should begin planning your next move.

     

    My personnal ethics would consider this action too much for a good management team or a company to ask of an employee.  I would find a new job quickly.

    Good managers have the observation skills to assess their employees.  If they have to use a test, they should not be managers.

     

    Just my opinion.

    DAB

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member

    Never taken a test like that, everybody knows without any tests that I am grumpy and grim image But if I were forced to, I would either leave the company or give made up answers so that upper-ups have something to think about if they ever actually read the test results. The guy like you described should have no problem finding another job at another company where he is treated right.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    The consensus here is "do not take the test in protest." I also am leaning in this direction, mostly due to the fact he has been there for so long already and done so much work for the company.

     

    We will see the real world results shortly, I have been told.

     

    Cabe

  • 0

    Most big companies do tests to make sure that not only the fit the culture - but also the team the work with. There are so many different test types - and different ways to classify them. Some companies even do the test every one or two years.

     

    I would not worry about a test. It sounds like your friend loves his job - so just do the test and continue as before.

     

    The boss might be a moron - and morons react on impulses anyway.

  • 0

    If it were me and I had such concerns, I would ask to see one of these "higher-ups" make an appointment or whatever, and discuss these concerns with them.

    I don`t think he should do anything reactionary, nor do I think he should just go along with.

    it`s important that he be heard and presents his case, otherwise nothing will ever change.

  • 0 in reply to Catwell

    Hi Cabe, just curious - what happened in this situation? 

  • 0

    I think your friend needs to take the "Dilbert compatibility test".  I can't find a link to this, so I'm paraphrasing from memory.

     

    1.  Select 100 Dilbert strips at random.

    2.  For each strip, indicate whether it reflects your company or not.

     

    Scoring:

     

    0-25: Company needs to develop a sense of humor.

    25-50: Company has a heathy mixture of reasonableness and nonsense.

    50-75: Company is starting to get into trouble, and needs to improve its culture or it's going to be history.

    75-100: Company is beyond repair -- get your resume in order and start looking elsewhere.

  • 0 in reply to nlarson

    Nicole,

     

    My friend refused to take the test at first. The higher-ups said, they must. But, in the end, the test never took place.

    Occasionally, fellow employees made statements like, “we all had to take the test, why haven’t you?”

    The reply has always been, “I was never asked.” To this day, no follow up.

     

    I suspect it was a whim. This same “super-boss” also have cameras installed everywhere in the building. He sits watching them like “The Claw” from “Inspector Gadget.” I was told he even has some installed at his house, to watch what his wife/family is up to. Keep in mind, these cameras are not for security. Super-boss is the only one watching them.

     

    C