Ethical Leader Decision Making

Ethical Business Decision Making

Case

A former employee who was fired due to poor quality work, absences, and lateness related to her drinking problem, informs you that she has applied for a position at another company and has already given your name as a reference. She desperately needs a job (she is a single parent with three children), and she asks you to give her a good recommendation and not mention her drinking, which she assures you is now under control.

She also asks you to say that she voluntarily left the company to address a family medical crisis, and that the company was pleased with her work. You like this person and believe she is a good worker when she is not drinking. You doubt that she really has overcome her drinking problem, however, and you would not recommend your own company hire her back.

1) What do you say to this woman?

Personal and work are always in conflict in key decisions that we make at work. In most instances, people we work with become close friends and hence it is tougher to differentiate personal versus professional decision. There are two things that I would tell the former employee. First is that it is alright to be transparent to the next employer on the issues she encountered while being employed in our organization. It is her responsibility that she disclose all information on previous employment. Any information withheld may be discovered in the process of pre-employment investigation and will jeopardize her employment altogether.

Secondly, since I am still connected with the organization, I represent the organization and my actions would be reflective of the opinion of the organization as a whole. I would explain that while I truly like her and believed on her skills and ability to do the job, I cannot disclose incorrect information as my words become the words of the organization as well.

Thirdly, I understand that she badly needs the job and she has three children who depends on her income. I would tell her...