July 9, 2009
More commentary on HR or Work related Blogs.
This time it is about a posting by Alison of Ask a Manager (AAM for short). I really do enjoy her blog and her wonderful insight. She often comes across as someone who has thought issues through carefully and gives some good advice. I truly recommend reading her blog on a regular basis.
However, this time she has given advice that I just cannot agree with. A reader, who is a supervisor, has asked if he can tell a subordinate that the individual should not spend too much money on vacations, etc. because the supervisor knows that layoffs are coming in the near future. The supervisor mentions that rumors are floating around the office; it is just that this supervisor knows the details and it involves his friend.
Most people, including me, can certainly understand the dilemma that this supervisor feels he is in. But hard choices are part of being a manager. That's why managers are paid more than those of us who do the bulk of the work. It is called being responsible!
AAM's suggestion is that the supervisor use coded language to let the person know. You know, something like "now is not a good time to get in over your head financially." or something along those lines. AAM feels that this allows the supervisor to demonstrate his loyalty to his friend while maintaining loyalty to the company.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. I cannot disagree more forcefully. And I am going to be "pig-headed' about this.
Unless AAM is advocating that this supervisor share this information (coded or otherwise) with EVERYONE under him this is called favoritism. It is not good for morale, it is not good for the company, and it is unethical.
Imagine how the poor schmuck who doesn't "brown-nose" the boss will feel when he finds out that the boss advised someone else (in coded language or not) that layoffs were coming and did not warn him? This is one reason why so many people always complain that the brown-nosers of the world get all the breaks. It is poor management.
Some of the commenters over at AAM have suggested such; and, asked further what if the parties involved were family members. Well, this is one reason many companies have policies against family members reporting to each other in the workplace.
This supervisor has a responsibility to maintain confidentiality with such sensitive information. That is a key requirement of his job. It is a key requirement of ALL management and Human Resource positions. If this supervisor cannot understand this, and his writing to a blogger to ask for advice tells me he doesn't, then he is not management material.
I see this as a "slippery slope" to even more unethical behaviour. If it okay to help a friend for financial gain (and yes, avoiding a financial loss is a financial gain); how about using your confidential information and influence to help that friend avoid being laid off? How about using your confidential information and influence to help a friend get a job over someone better qualified? How about using your confidential information and influence to get a government contract? Are these behaviours okay as well? Where does one draw the line? Fortunately, I believe that many organizations have policies to help the "ethically challenged" navigate these situations.
BTW, while certainly not the case here, using such "insider information" for financial gain in some situations is illegal. Just ask Martha Stewart.
One further thought on this issue, the advice to the original letter writer should have included a comment about trying to do something "proactive" on this issue. Why didn't AAM (and other commenters) try to advise this supervisor to approach his superiors to let them know that their "silence" is hurting morale? Taking such an action might very well allow him to make an announcement to everyone under him with his manager's approval. This would solve his "dilemma" while also helping out the company. Thereby, helping him demonstrate to his superioirs that he is management material.
Comments:
If you wish to comment on this or any post send an email to nooriginalthought *at* earthlink *dot* net. Please let me know which post you are commenting on. Also, all comments are posted as anonymous unless you request otherwise.
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