When you face an ethical dilemma, ask yourself the following questions:

If after reviewing these questions, you are unsure of the best course of action, seek advice and guidance from our ethics reporting resources before proceeding.

 

Q: Hanna, a Timken analyst, works closely with Aaron, another associate. While Hanna and Aaron generally get along well, Aaron will occasionally crack a joke that Hanna thinks is offensive. She doesn’t want to harm their working relationship so she doesn’t say anything about the jokes. However, they have become more frequent and are starting to bother other associates as well. What should Hanna do?

 

A: First, Hanna should consider letting Aaron know that his jokes are hurtful and unprofessional. However, Hanna may not be comfortable speaking to Aaron directly – and that’s okay. She should raise the issue with Aaron’s supervisor instead, letting him or her know that Aaron’s behavior is affecting other associates. Hanna also can contact any of the ethics reporting resources for assistance. By speaking up, Hanna helps to keep Timken a respectful, ethical place to work.