Assignment task:
Zach had an overwhelming, stressful day at the internship site. His site is located in a small, suburban community. its residents know each other and often do their financial business in the same community where they live. Zach, who is not from this community, met a friend for dinner close to the office and really needed to vent. He disclosed to the friend what he thought was non-identifying information about a customer-until he realized that a supervisor at the site was seated in the booth behind his friend and would know how to interpret the information Zach shared. The supervisor now knew that Zach had violated the site's policy that company personnel are not allowed to talk about customers outside the office, or at the very least, not disclose any identifying information about a customer's profile. Zach realized that he did something inappropriate. He wants to be hired by the site when his internship is over. He's not sure what to do next.
What would you do if you were Zach?
Zach is learning a lesson the hard way. He didn't plan to compromise information about the customer but did by virtue of an employee overhearing his discussion and interpreting the information to identify the customer. this professional issue-disclosing information that is private to the site-can easily escalate into an ethical issue if Zach doesn't handle it in accordance with the professional and ethical documents that guide the work at the internship site. Worse, if Zach's conversation was overheard by a friend or relative of the customer, and such disclosure was brought to the customer's attention, the customer might consider bringing legal proceedings against the site, Zach, and Zach's supervisor based on the disclosure (K. Schlomy personal communication, June 21, 2017).
What are Zach's next steps?
Before answering that question, think about Jade's situation in terms of the four guiding questions: What? So What? Now What? Then What?