Problem:
An HR manager is hiring two employees. The top two candidates, one male and one female, are equally qualified and you wish to hire both. You will be evaluated in part by how well you control compensation expenses. As a result, you have both a professional and personal responsibility to pay the lowest salary that is necessary to get the candidate to accept the position. At the last interview, you ask each about salary expectations. The female candidate asks for a salary that is substantially below what the male may not accept the job offer at a lower salary and you know that the female is willing to accept the lower offer.
What do you do?