Build Relationships

 8. Case study 2
Confidential information Sally works in the human resources department of a large organization. Every day she eats lunch with Albert, who works in the shipping department. Last week Franklin was hired in the receiving department in a position similar to Albert’s. Although Albert has been with the company for more than five years, he heard yesterday that Franklin is receiving a higher salary. Sally has access to the personnel records, but she has not seen Franklin’s hiring information. However, yesterday she heard her supervisor discussing Franklin’s salary with another manager. Is it OK for Sally to tell Albert what she knows? How should she respond if he asks if the rumor is true? Is it unethical for Sally to share information she didn’t see in the files but overheard? In the future, how could Sally respond to questions and maintain her professionalism when asked about confidential information? (Learning Objective 2)