Personal Lives Not Employers Concern

Dear Ann Landers: I am a 19-year-old university student. Yesterday, in my Organizational Behavior class, we were asked to read a case study that dealt with ethical dilemmas in employment. The case was about two employees, one married, the other single. They were having an affair. The question: “What disciplinary action would you impose if you were the human resources manager?”

I raised my hand and responded, “Fire them both!” To my dismay, in a class of over 50 students, not a single person agreed with me. Not even my professor.

The rationale was that they were both consenting adults and free to do whatever they wanted. I was outraged and asked the class to walk in the shoes of the wronged party. What if it was your wife or husband fooling around? What if there were children involved?

This made me wonder, are we becoming so hard-edged and jaded that we now accept adultery as the norm? Are these the kind of morals we want to pass on to our children? I pray that we have not slipped down to that level. - Morally Correct in Calgary, Alberta

Dear Calgary: Sorry, I disagree. A company has no right to become involved in the personal lives of its employees unless their behavior is affecting the quality of their work or causing favoritism. “Big Brother” does not belong in the workplace.

Dear Ann Landers: My husband is 79. I am 75. We have been happily married for 51 years. The problem I am writing about concerns our 50-year-old daughter, “Mary.”

Both my husband and I have been blessed with good health. We are energetic and have a variety of interests. He has done well financially (we are not wealthy but comfortable) and hope to live for several years more, God willing. We have told Mary that everything we have will be evenly divided between her and her brother.

Her brother never talks about what life will be like when we are gone, but Mary has brought the subject up several times. It is beginning to get on my nerves. Yesterday, she called, crying on the phone about how miserable she will be when “it happens.” I was annoyed and told her, “Get a hold of yourself.” She became angry and hung up on me.

I’m starting to feel that what she really wants is to make sure she will be well taken care of. I resent being “reminded.” Any advice? - Apprehensive in Calif.

Dear Calif.: It sounds as if you have a good grasp of the situation. If Mary didn’t get the message and brings up the subject again, simply say, “Everything is taken care of, and there is nothing more to talk about.” Period.

Dear Ann Landers: I thought that this was pretty funny and that you might want to share it with your readers: The graduate with a Ph.D. in philosophy asks, “Why does it work?”

The graduate with an engineering degree asks, “How does it work?”

The graduate with an accounting degree asks, “How much will it cost?”

The graduate with a liberal arts degree asks, “Do you want fries with that?” - Illinois Reader

Dear Reader: A college education today is mighty important if you want to make it in the big time, regardless of what subject your degree is in. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it sure helps.

Gem of the Day: Everyone has a photographic memory, but some people don’t have enough film.