Case: Romancing the Co-Worker

Mrs. Mendoza is administrative assistant to Mr.

Salvador who is VP for Finance of AB Hospital. Miss Cruz is
an accountant in the Finance division. Mrs. Mendoza has on
several occasions and in different places seen Mr. Salvador
and Miss Cruz, behaving like lovers. Mrs. Mendoza’s trust
and respect for her boss is fast eroding because she is sure he
is having an affair with a subordinate. She argues that if a
man cannot be faithful to his wife, he cannot be trusted in his
professional dealings.

She confirms her suspicion by talking to colleagues.

One male colleague tells her that several men knew of the
affair since a year ago but have decided to ignore it because
both “seem” to be doing their jobs. The men who know of the
affair argue that the company should not interfere with
employees’ personal lives.

Mrs. Mendoza thinks differently. For her the personal

aspects of our lives are intimately connected with the
professional. She suspects that the rapid promotion of Miss
Cruz from Accountant II to Accountant IV over the more
senior accountants in the office is because of her affair with
the VP. But Mrs. Mendoza has to contend with a lack of
company policy on illicit affairs and the indifference of her
colleagues in the division.

a) What should Mrs. Mendoza do?

b) Should a company have a policy against illicit affairs
among employees? Why yes or why not?

Romancing the Co-Worker … 1