I would absolutely inform members of my family to line up a new job. My loyalty belongs to my family no matter what. I would however expect them to handle the situation tactfully based on the fact that I went out on a limb for them.
This is a Deontological ethical dilemma, because it a concern of duty or obligation based ethics. My family is the reason I am here and who I am, my loyalty sides with them first. Therefore an issue of loyalty sides automatically with loved ones and not a profit harvesting company.
In terms of hiring a director of PR, I wouldn’t care if what that person did was as simple as a leak to family members. And knowing about it gives me an edge on them to keep my eye on them., so yes I would probably hire them unless there had been serious repercussions.
Lets just be real. If I was questioned by management, I would deny everything. Ideally, I would not be traceable as the leak source if I was smart about it. I would instruct my family members to work to their last day and line up a job that started right after their termination and tell them not to quit upon receipt of a layoff.
Brillliant!! Dave, I like that last part about your scheme to get your family a job lined up before the last day and then transition smoothly! Good thought process.
Comment by benjamin — August 28, 2009 @ 8:30 pm