Jordan B Peterson | Controversial professor slams HR as 'dangerous' and prone to 'stupid decisions'

A world-famous professor has criticised the Human Resources function, labelling it an “ethics department” that uses “unbelievably dangerous” hiring methods.

Speaking on last week’s episode of the popular podcast, Conversations with Tyler, Jordan B Peterson, a controversial Canadian academic, argued that programmes to improve diversity in business have also given HR departments more influence.

“All of a sudden now, they’ve become ethics departments,” he said. “And people who take to themselves the right to determine the propriety of ethical conduct end up with a lot more power — especially if you cede it to them — than you think. And that’s happening at a very rapid rate.

“The doctrines that are driving hiring decisions, for example — any emphasis, for example, on equity, or equality of outcome — it’s unbelievably dangerous.