The failure modes are manifold. The hypothetical challenges around firing someone who is, in addition to one’s subordinate, a housemate, ex, and current partner of another staff member need not be explicated.
Sorry but what does this have to do with donations? In what way are these at all equivalent with donations?
Greg’s point is that the case against donating to one’s employer is part of a larger argument for increased professionalization of EA orgs. The situation he describes in the paragraph you quote illustrates what can go wrong when an organization lacks the level of professionalism he thinks orgs should have.
Yes, I see that’s what he’s trying to hint at, but there’s zero indication that donations have any of the same effects on professionalism that close interpersonal relationships have. The problem is not “I don’t understand your argument”, it’s “you’re alleging something out of the blue with no support.” It should be clear that dating a coworker and donating to the organization are completely different issues in many relevant respects. I can easily draw up examples of behavior which don’t reduce professionalism and are actually more comparable—voluntary overtime, for instance, which companies don’t forbid, or people covering expenses for the organization, which is common in nonprofits and some government agencies.
I actually regret this paragraph for the opposite reason: the risk it came across as a veiled side-swipe, or (even worse) someone might take me to be offering gratuitous commentary on their private life. (I have disclaimed accordingly).
Pablo has interpreted me correctly. I agree donations etc. are different from the others, but I aver they are similar in that they undermine ‘corporate professional’ type norms that larger EA groups are well-advised to adopt, if not to the same degree (FWIW, I think voluntary overtime is at least slightly worrisome for similar reasons).
Sorry but what does this have to do with donations? In what way are these at all equivalent with donations?
Greg’s point is that the case against donating to one’s employer is part of a larger argument for increased professionalization of EA orgs. The situation he describes in the paragraph you quote illustrates what can go wrong when an organization lacks the level of professionalism he thinks orgs should have.
Yes, I see that’s what he’s trying to hint at, but there’s zero indication that donations have any of the same effects on professionalism that close interpersonal relationships have. The problem is not “I don’t understand your argument”, it’s “you’re alleging something out of the blue with no support.” It should be clear that dating a coworker and donating to the organization are completely different issues in many relevant respects. I can easily draw up examples of behavior which don’t reduce professionalism and are actually more comparable—voluntary overtime, for instance, which companies don’t forbid, or people covering expenses for the organization, which is common in nonprofits and some government agencies.
I actually regret this paragraph for the opposite reason: the risk it came across as a veiled side-swipe, or (even worse) someone might take me to be offering gratuitous commentary on their private life. (I have disclaimed accordingly).
Pablo has interpreted me correctly. I agree donations etc. are different from the others, but I aver they are similar in that they undermine ‘corporate professional’ type norms that larger EA groups are well-advised to adopt, if not to the same degree (FWIW, I think voluntary overtime is at least slightly worrisome for similar reasons).
And what evidence is there that donations undermine professionalism?