To help keep costs down, and raise the possibility that you might actually make a profit on this gig, the others in the band ask if they can all travel on your discounted passes. This will help everyone save money.
You think it through. You could [[say no|sayNo]] outright, but you worry that would cause tension with your bandmates. The easy thing would be to [[say yes|sayYes]]. Or maybe this is a time to [[get further input|getInput]]."Seriously?" says Dave. "Those passes are like gold to us, but have practically zero value to the company. They basically just fill up empty seats -- that's why the let you have them in the first place. It's a perk of the job."
You think about it. Maybe Dave is right. Maybe it's not a big deal, and you should [[give in]]. On the other hand, you don't want to get in trouble. So maybe you should [[stick to your guns]]."Sweet!" says Dave. "You rock!"
You smile. You're not feeling great about the decision, but what can you do? You turn [[back to your work|moveOn]].You wonder where you could get good advice. Your friend [[Nayaab|askaFriend]] has always been a close confidant in the past, and always gives good advice. Or maybe there's a clear answer, one that could be found in the [[Code of Conduct|ConsultCode]]. On the other hand, maybe just being up-front and asking your Supervisor, [[Clarissa|AskTheBoss]] would be the more straightforward move.In the breakroom later that day, you wait until you can chat alone with your friend Nayaab. You outline the problem for her.
She nods. "Yeah, I can see the problem. You've got these passes, and the band would really benefit from them. Technically, I'm pretty sure you're not allowed because you're getting paid, but maybe you won't get caught."
Do you [[take the risk|you decide to lie]] or [[ask Clarissa|AskTheBoss]]?
"OK," you say. "[[Let's go for it|sayYes]]."(set: _list to (array: "DaveIsCool", "DaveIsJerk"))
"Look," you say. "I just can't. The company has clear rules about this sort of thing. They (link-goto: "take it seriously", (shuffled: ..._list)'s 1st)."
"Good idea," says Clarissa. "I consider this matter closed."
[[You have been warned.|Final thoughts]]"Look," says Clarissa, "the rules are very clear. If you don't cancel the passes yourself, I'll do it for you. I consider this matter closed. But please use better judgment next time."
[[You have been warned.|Final thoughts]]"Look," says Clarissa, "the rules are very clear. If you're getting paid at all, it is considered a business venture. If you don't cancel the passes yourself, I'll do it for you. I consider this matter closed. But please use better judgment next time."
[[You have been warned.|Final thoughts]]You open your web browser, and click through to the relevant page of the employee Code of Conduct.
"Discounted passes provided to employees are for personal and leisure travel only, and they should not be used for any business or personal ventures."
At this point, you can [[give up on the idea|giveUp]] of using the passes. Or you could [[ask your boss|AskTheBoss]] her interpretation of the rule about passes. Or you can [[ask your friend Nayaab|askaFriend]].Clarissa invites you into her office, and you close the door behind you. You outline the problem for her.
Clarissa winces, and shakes her head, "I know the band is important to you, but it's paid gig, right? You know you can't use passes for that."
Do you: Say, "You're right, it was a dumb question. [[We'll pay our own way."|IwasDumb]]
(or)
[["C'mon Clarissa. That's technically the rule, but no one actually cares do they?"|PushBack]]
(or)
[["Look, what if I'm really going on vacation, and the band's gig just happens to be part of it?"|3rdWay]]A week later, your supervisor, Clarissa pops by your cubicle. "Hey, can I see you for a minute?"
"Uh, Sure!" you say, and follow her to her office down the hall.
Clarissa shuts the office door behind you. "One of our random audits shows that you're using three passes to get yourself and two other people to California next month. I know you've got that week off, but I thought it was to play a gig. I know the band is important to you, but it's a paid gig, right? You know you can't use passes for that."
"It's not a paid gig," [[you decide to lie]].
(or)
"You're right, [[that was stupid of me. I'll have the passes cancelled."|IwasCaught]]
(or)
"C'mon Clarissa. That's technically the rule, [[but no one actually cares do they?"|PushBack]]
(or)
[["Look, what if I'm really going on vacation|3rdWay]], and the band's gig just happens to be part of it?"You've reached a decision: you can't use your passes this way. You spot Dave, who also works in the airport, in the food-court later that day. You [[tell him the bad news|sayNo]].Dave sighs, "OK, OK, I get it. I don't want you to get in trouble. It's all good. We'll pay our own way."
[[You have annoyed your bandmates, but followed the Code of Conduct|Final thoughts]]Dave pushes further: "We're relying on you. There's no one else in the band with this kind of perk!"
Do you remind Dave [[that you're the only one whose job is at risk|DaveRelents1]]? Or do you [[tell him you want to quit the band|DaveIsCool]]? Or do you finally [[give in]]?Dave rolls his eyes. "Man, you used to be cool. Fine! We'll pay our own way. I just think it's stupid."
[[You have annoyed your bandmates, but followed the Code of Conduct.|Final thoughts]]Are you sure you want to do that?
[[Yes]]
[[No|moveOn]]<b>Final Thoughts</b>
You’ve just been through what you may have experienced as a difficult ethical decision. Or maybe it was an easy decision that was hard to implement. Different people will react very differently, for a range of reasons.
Before you go, imaging for a moment that you were in Clarissa’s shoes. Picture yourself as the manager in this situation, responsible for managing a team of people, implementing directives from above and making sure policies are followed.
How would YOU have responded to this situation, if you were Clarissa?
If you were Clarissa, how would you explain to a subordinate the significance of the policy in question?
If you were Clarissa, how would you manage your team so that issues like this don’t arise?
//Press refresh on your browser to play again.//<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a8a0ae_ef04f92e8c3a439aac11a04c6999ca1e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_600,h_400,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/checkin.png"/>
You work as a Customer Service Agent at the airport. Your job can be stressful, as you deal with airport operations, including unavoidable disruptions such as weather events, flight cancelations, etc.
To relieve tension, in your spare time, you play in a band. Your supervisor, Clarissa, is the Station Operations Manager, and she is aware that you play in a band, and has seen you perform.
A music producer who saw your band play has invited the band to play at a festival in California.
The festival organizers will pay the band for their participation, and will provide accommodations, but the band is responsible for their own travel arrangements.
[[Which has led to a challenging problem...|The Ask]]"I see," says Clarissa, giving you a disapproving look. "OK. I consider this matter closed. But please use better judgment next time."
[[You have been warned.|Final thoughts]]<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a8a0ae_747c35e752ce40bcb351ec427a5bdc45~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_399,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/audience-868074__480.jpg"/>
You go ahead and use the flight passes. The show is pretty good, but your drummer and your bass player get into a fight and the flight home is pretty tense. You're actually happy to get back to work and to routine.
However, there's an email waiting that states that you're in violation of the employee code. "Discounted passes provided to employees are for personal and leisure travel only, and they should not be used for any business or personal ventures."
Clarissa followed up and discovered that it was in fact a paid gig, and thus considered a business venture.
[[You have lost your job.|Final thoughts]]