Question: LEGAL/ETHICAL CHALLENGE
It's Not My Problem . . . Or Is It?
You are the most junior financial analyst in your department of seven people. You've been in this job for three years, and you feel you have good relationships with all the members of your department and many others outside the department. Your department manager, along with the managers of five other departments, reports directly to the president, with whom you also have a very positive relationship. While the personalities of the members of your department are very different, most everybody has seemed to get along during your time at the company. This, however, changed when your department manager had a conflict with one of your more senior coworkers. He began to treat him unfairly, assigned him the most undesirable jobs, and talked about him disparagingly to other employees both inside and outside of your department. You feel that he is indeed being mistreated. If this wasn't bad enough, the situation escalated when your poorly treated colleague confronted your manager about the mistreatment. Your manager then persuaded two of the department's most senior employees to join him in his personal attacks and attempts to damage your colleague's reputation both inside and outside the company. The situation got so bad that in one meeting the manager and other two senior members screamed at your colleague. Your colleague didn't scream back and nobody else in the department said anything. The situation continues to escalate and is negatively affecting your department and your own satisfaction at work. What Should You Do?
1. Let the conflict and mistreatment continue. While the situation is unfortunate, it's not your responsibility to intervene. Explain your reasoning.
2. Intervene and talk to your manager. Everybody has a responsibility to address unethical behavior and conflict. Explain your reasoning.
3. Make the president aware. You have a positive relationship with the president and feel that you could talk to her about the situation. Explain your reasoning.
4. Create and explain other alternatives.