Ethical Question????


preacherman

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We have a guy who cleans the church and he is a pretty friendly guy. He and his family goes to church with us. He is a hired and payed monthly to clean the church and the church offices. When I first came, he and I had a good little conversation about what I expect about him and my office. Mainly that what is in, on and around my desk is my space and private. The reason that I do this is because of legal issues with certain counseling sessions (I take notes on everything). Well, today he is at the church cleaning and I step out of my office for a few minutes and then come back in......to find him at my desk going through my papers. So, here is the question.....what do you do? How do you handle it?

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Re: Ethical Question????

First, never leave any private information laying around!

I think this is as much your fault as his! Anyone who happens to walk by a desk or whatever is going to glance at the papers that are laying there!

I would warn him, but at the same time, get your act together and never leave anything like that laying around again!

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Guest Andrea

Re: Ethical Question????

I never leave anything laying out on my desk after I leave. You just never know these days............even with people you trust.

What did you say when you walked in and saw him doing that?

I would think that a very very firm reprimand is called for and from now on......put all confidential papers in a locked filing cabinet.

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Re: Ethical Question????

First of all, let me clarify something......these were not those "confidential papers" I am not stupid, I would never leave anything like that just laying around. But the papers he went through had some personal notes and things like that on them. My greatest fear is that if he will do this......then he will plunder more.......should have cleared things up a little more......just a little flustered as I typed.

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Re: Ethical Question????

First off I would take responsibility for what I'm responsible for...the trust that other people have placed in me.

Secure their personal information.

Secondly...I would have to let the cleaning person know that the trust I have placed in him has possibly been misplaced. I would inform him of the importance of privacy in the information I posess and ask him exactly how together we could manage the situation so that both of us can do our jobs correctly. Discuss the alternatives of violating the trust that is placed in him.

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Re: Ethical Question????

[ QUOTE ]

Fire him! Fire him now! He was was told the rules and broke them. If my personal information was violated I would kick his backside till he couldn't sit for a month mad.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, have to agree with this. Whether any confidential info was violated or not, he did not respect your rules.

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Guest MonsterBuckMatt

Re: Ethical Question????

it is hard to say how to handle it. i think that i would address the issue to the other elders at the church and talk about getting someone else to clean the church

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Re: Ethical Question????

[ QUOTE ]

First of all, let me clarify something......these were not those "confidential papers" I am not stupid, I would never leave anything like that just laying around. But the papers he went through had some personal notes and things like that on them. My greatest fear is that if he will do this......then he will plunder more.......should have cleared things up a little more......just a little flustered as I typed.

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn’t matter if it was personal papers or a receipt for Arby's. You asked him to stay out of them....

"Character is what a person chooses to do when no one is looking...."

By letting him go on this one he will learn nothing and eventually pour into the stuff he really doesnt need to be into. Cut him loose and perhaps he will learn something, at the very least you will keep private stuff private.

There are a ton of people out there that are truly trust worthy that would be more then happy to fill that position.

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Re: Ethical Question????

Tough call. You're new and he's probably a long time friend in that church.

I'd sit him down again and explain if this happens another time, he's done.

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Re: Ethical Question????

i feel the same way as jeramie. if he knew what his job was , and after i had told him about my space, i think you would have to look at the issue, if he would do something you asked him not to do what else would he do when your not there? as for getting firing of him, thats your call.

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Guest MrBuckshot

Re: Ethical Question????

[ QUOTE ]

Fire him! Fire him now! He was was told the rules and broke them. If my personal information was violated I would kick his backside till he couldn't sit for a month mad.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

lol nice one, do what rangerclay said

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