Hire When It Hurts

This panel discussion podcast from 37signals focuses on their company's hiring philosophy: "hire when it hurts." The hosts discuss the rationale behind this approach, emphasizing the importance of avoiding unnecessary hires and the negative consequences of employing people without sufficient work. They illustrate this with examples, including the experience of hiring an in-house counsel whose workload was far less than anticipated, highlighting the inefficiency and potential demoralization this caused. The discussion also touches on exceptions to this rule, such as seizing opportunities to hire exceptionally qualified candidates or to accelerate projects, even if the need isn't immediately pressing. Ultimately, the podcast advocates for a thoughtful, needs-based approach to hiring, prioritizing impactful work over simply filling positions.