Policy's Proper Preposition
Hi, I have seen these used a comparable amount of times. What's the correct—or if no such definite rule exists, better—way to say this?
"Policy against …" or "Policy of not …"
An example sentence being something like: "The company had a policy of not [or against!] hiring ex-cons."
[Purely an example. I know of no such company.]
Thank you for the help 
Top answer
Hi Samir The word 'against' implies a stronger ban, usually with a moral message. 'Of not' implies a more straightforward decision not to act in a certain way - The company has a policy against drug use of any kind - The company has a policy of not hiring former convicts More neutrally: - The company has a Former Convicts Employment Policy The latter would state the company's position in a careful way but, in practice, it might mean that former convicts are never employed Dave
- Hi Samir The word 'against' implies a stronger ban, usually with a moral message.
- 'Of not' implies a more straightforward decision not to act in a certain way - The company has a policy against drug use of any kind - The company has a policy of not hiring former convicts More neutrally: - The company has a Former Convicts Employment Policy The latter would state the company's position in a careful way but, in practice, it might mean that former convicts are never employed Dave
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Hi Samir
The word 'against' implies a stronger ban, usually with a moral message. 'Of not' implies a more straightforward decision not to act in a certain way
- The company has a policy against drug use of any kind
- The company has a policy of not hiring former convicts
More neutrally:
- The company has a Former Convicts Employment Policy
The latter would s
0Hi again
Just as a postscript: in the UK, every conviction carries with it a period of rehabilitation after which the person cannot be barred from a job only on the grounds of that former conviction. It would be illegal to have a policy that stated otherwise
(There are exceptions where the job involves vulnerable people - including children - who might be put at risk)
Dave
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