Confidentiality in a company
Facts
Confidentiality is an important ethical issue within organizations. Employees with access to confidential company information are under obligation to ethically and legally protect company information from access by a third party. Employees are required to protect the companies’ intellectual property and confidential information such as details of trade secrets, strategic plans, and company projects, among others. Sharing information without permission is an unethical practice that involves a breach of confidence and trust that may place the company in jeopardy as it may give competitors an advantage against the company. It may also have an adverse consequence for the employee who exposes the information, as it may lead to the suspension or termination of employment depending on the type of data acquired by the third party. As an employee, one’s first duty is the protection of the company, implying that maintaining ethical standards is the employee’s duty.
Issue
Luke is contemplating sharing confidential company information with his brother Owen. In the case, it is evident that when the company project of establishing an adult entertainment retail store begins the property values of the surrounding region would depreciate. Unfortunately, this would affect his brother Owen who resides in the area. Previously Owen had shared with Luke his plans of selling his house but was contemplating on selling at a fair offer, or waiting until the price appreciates in the future. However, with the company’s plans, if he fails to sell the house, he will have to go at a loss selling in the future. Luke has a dilemma of whether to stay silent as a responsible employee, or sharing the information with his brother as a loving and caring sibling. Should he decide to share the information about the company project with Owen, it constitutes a breach of confidentiality and trust, and this may put his job on the line. On the other hand, if stay silent he risks having his brother lose the opportunity of a good bargain for his house and this may place him in conflict with his brother after the news of the project is out. Therefore the situation is an ethical dilemma with each side exhibiting pros and cons.
Analysis
As an employee of ABC Company, his first duty is to protect the company’s interest by safeguarding confidential information and intellectual property from access by the third party no matter the relationship with the third party. However, as a brother and very close sibling he also has the duty to ensure the protection of his family and maintenance of their interest as well. Utilitarianism philosophy classifies an action as ethical judging based on results and outcomes of the activity. Therefore, if an event leads to the greater good and favorable results that promote satisfaction and happiness in society, then the action is ethical. However, if it results in adverse outcomes and results in dissatisfaction in the community, then it is wrong (Foot, 60). The philosophy does not examine the action itself is ethical or not. It also emphasizes on the happiness and not virtues such as nobility and responsibility. Based on the situation above, Luke is contemplating on whether or not to share with his brother confidential company information on a project that his company is projecting to carry out at his neighborhood. He has two choices, either to stay quiet as a responsible employee of ABC Company or to share the information with his brother as a caring sibling. Based on utilitarianism perspective, the most ethical choice would be sharing with his brother as it would result in greater happiness for the general society. It would also result in maximum utility by maintaining strong family relations. Ideally, his brother is family and family is the smallest, basic and most essential unit of the society. Sharing company information with his brother would help solve a social problem of him having to make losses on selling his house in the future as wells other neighbors his brother may share with the information. Furthermore, there is a limited probability that the company would ever find out that Luke shared information with his brother Owen, provided Owen keeps the news a secret from others.
Kantianism is a philosophy that emphasizes on the types of action rather than results in determining ethics. Therefore, if a response is wrong, whether it results in a positive outcome or not, it is unethical (Wood). Based on the situation presented above, Luke is contemplating sharing confidential company information with his brother. In as much, as it would help protect Owen, who is his family member, he is not part of the company as such sharing information with his is unethical. Owen constitutes a third party who should not have access to confidential company information and intellectual property. Therefore, according to Kantianism sharing the information with his brother is wrong despite the positive outcomes it may create.
Recommendations
It is unethical to share private company information. Therefore, Luke should stay quiet on information concerning the project. However, he can decide to advise his brother to sell the house without mentioning the company project to him to ensure that he also salvages his relationship with his family once the information is out.