I have mixed feelings on culture fit becoming a bad word.
I don't disagree with your point but I think there is a danger with ignoring its value.
For example --leaving aside your views on SV startup sweatshops-- if you're in a start up, you will at some point work late hours and you will at some point go through stressful times. Sometimes the things that get you through those times is that feeling of camaraderie and actually getting on with your colleagues.
Screening on culture-fit is a good way to guard for that, and at least for me it is unwise to not associate value with that.
Now, it could be that your culture is inclusivity. But then isn't hiring for people who fit that mould still hiring for culture fit? Isn't that still creating a monoculture? Isn't discriminating against a bigot brogrammer (who may well be great at coding) still discrimination?
I don't disagree with your point but I think there is a danger with ignoring its value.
For example --leaving aside your views on SV startup sweatshops-- if you're in a start up, you will at some point work late hours and you will at some point go through stressful times. Sometimes the things that get you through those times is that feeling of camaraderie and actually getting on with your colleagues.
Screening on culture-fit is a good way to guard for that, and at least for me it is unwise to not associate value with that.
Now, it could be that your culture is inclusivity. But then isn't hiring for people who fit that mould still hiring for culture fit? Isn't that still creating a monoculture? Isn't discriminating against a bigot brogrammer (who may well be great at coding) still discrimination?