Ethics Blog for COMM 150 Fall '09

If is was in this position, I would make a case to management that it would be in the best interest of the company to let the employees know, more than a week before closing, that these stores are being shut-down.  I think it would prove that those in higher positions do think about all their employees, even the lower level ones, and it reflects positively on the company as a whole.  However, should upper management not appreciate my bleeding heart interjection, I would honor the confidentiality vow I took.  I don’t believe people should sign confidentiality vows lightly, and I would hope that my family members understood my silence (in reality, my family members would not understand, but I would still keep my mouth shut).  Either way, I have a policy about mean what you say, and say what you mean – simply put, keep your word or don’t give it.

I would not hire a director of PR that made this kind of leak.  I believe that ideally, a PR professional should have an upright ethical identity/integrity.  If they cant hack being placed in a difficult decision such as this, what would make them qualified to handle an even more difficult ethical dilemma?  They gave their word and broke it, how can you trust them?

Assuming I did leak info, and assuming management it suspicious and questioning me, I would confess to my transgressions.  If they are already suspicious and I lie, I am sure that soon or later I will get busted for leaking info and then lying about it.  My feelings are you always get caught and if you can’t face the heat, don’t put yourself in that position.