DP2

DecisionPoint
http://proethica.org/ontology/cases#DecisionPoint

DP2

Should Engineer B threaten Engineer A with discharge to stop the Citizens Committee advocacy that embarrasses XYZ Manufacturing, or should he manage the employer's concerns through means that do not suppress Engineer A's Code-protected civic conduct?

Engineer B, as supervisor of Engineer A at XYZ Manufacturing, must decide how to respond to Engineer A's Citizens Committee advocacy that is embarrassing the employer — specifically whether to threaten Engineer A with discharge if he continues, or to find a response that manages the employer's concerns without suppressing Engineer A's Code-protected civic conduct, given that Engineer B may himself be acting under pressure from XYZ Manufacturing's leadership.

Warn Engineer A that continued Citizens Committee activities will result in termination, on the grounds that the advocacy places XYZ Manufacturing in an embarrassing position and that protecting the employer's commercial interests is a legitimate supervisory obligation.

Convey XYZ Manufacturing's discomfort with the advocacy to Engineer A — explaining the employer's reputational concerns and requesting that Engineer A consider the employer's position — while making clear that the final decision about civic engagement is Engineer A's to make and that no employment consequence will follow from continuing lawful, general, factually grounded advocacy.

Refer the matter to XYZ Manufacturing's legal counsel or human resources department to assess whether Engineer A's advocacy constitutes a breach of any employment agreement or confidentiality obligation before taking any supervisory action, thereby deferring the discharge decision pending a formal review of Engineer A's conduct.

Engineer B