Poll: Should you be able to apply for a new position within a company if you're on disability leave?

[Queasy]

My wife applied for a position in her company that is the next step to her goal of being a commercial property manager. Something like two positions open and eight people applied. Well, this girl that works in the same group as my wife has been out the past couple of months on disablity. She claims she is suffering from MS. The new positions opened while she was out on leave and they stopped taking applications while she was out.

Now, here's the good part. The girl sends her application for the position in while she is out. Not only that, but the group that has the openings has a group party and she calls to ask if she can go. Only two people from my wife's team are allowed to go to this party and the girl on disability gets one of the slots!! She apparently called HR and management to check if it was ok and for some reason they allowed it. Then she kept calling people in the office for directions to the party!

Needless to say, several people in my wife's group are pissed over this.
?
Is it fair to let someone out on disability apply for a position within the company?

 

[lokiju]

How about a "depends" option?

 

[Queasy]

Done. Would like to hear what the depends explanation is....

 

[NickelTitanium]

it's all about connections. especially in real estate.
if you are shy, then you should be in the business.
if it bothers your wife so much, then have her voice her discontent to the higher ups.
It does sound like she has a legit reason to be upset. The disablity gal might even get
the job because she is perceive by the management as being aggressive. (That is a good
thing in real estate)

 

[notfred]

Why not?

1) An application doesn't guarantee the position.

2) When this person heals, they'll be back at work right? Suppose one of your best employees is injured on the job and is home for 6 weeks with a broken leg. Five weeks into his recovery, a supervisor position opens up. Why shouldn't he be able to apply? He's one of your best employees, he'd make a great supervisor, and he'll be back at work next week. You'd rather hire someone less qualified because he didn't get hurt?

 

[Queasy]

Trust me, my wife is not shy. She's the kind of person that everytime we go out, she makes a new friend. She just started the job at the end of March and she's let everyone know that she wants to move up to a property manager. Even during the initial interview.

My wife is more like me and wondering whether it is right for someone who has been out on disability to apply for the job. It seems kind of iffy.

 

[mugs]

I don't think it's wrong to apply for a position while you're on disability leave, but this person seems to be going after it pretty agressively for someone who is supposed to be disabled. When does she expect to come back to work? And why do you seem to not believe she has MS?