Part two is a case study that will be available by $8$:$00$am on Monday, and is to be

completed and submitted by $11$:$59$ pm on Sunday. Download the attached case details

and answer each of the questions. Each question is worth $10$ points. APA citations

should be included in your responses. This is another opportunity to showcase your

understanding of the major concepts covered in the latter portion of this class. Be sure

to use material from our readings, videos, and Models of the Working Woman, and cite

them in your responses. Make sure that your response includes critical thinking of the

question $-$ a one sentence response will not garner full credit for the questions.

Case Details

$$ While Sam started working at the accounting firm six months prior to Sally, Sam

and Sally are peers in the firm and are scheduled on many of the same audit

engagements.

$$ After working together for six weeks on several projects that required long hours,

they developed a romantic relationship outside of the workplace.

$$ To maintain their privacy and avoid gossip, Sam and Sally agree to keep the

personal relationship as low$-$key as possible and to refrain from publicly

displaying affection at work.

$$ Sam and Sally are fairly confident that the relationship is not well known within

the group, but they are not $100\%$ certain.

$$ Both Sam and Sally enjoy their work in the firm; that is$,$ they are good performers

and are motivated to produce results at work.

$$ In the fall, Sally is promoted. In Sally$$s new role as director, she manages Pat,

Sam$$s senior, on several key audit engagements and tasks.

$$ Because Sally will not be directly managing Sam, she and Sam decide to

continue to keep the relationship quiet.

$$ Both are fairly certain that the relationship will not cause any issues within the

audit team and that no conflicts of interest will occur. However, technically, this is

a hierarchical romance.

$$ Sally is not directing or reviewing Sam$$s work at a $$detailed level$,$ and they

believe they can maintain a purely professional relationship at work

$$ Career$-$related decisions happen quickly at the firm $($within $6$ months$)$ and Sam is

also hoping for a promotion to director, like Sally.

$$ All current directors have influence in the promotion process at the firm.

$$ After one year, Sam is not promoted. Several months later, Sam ends their

relationship after Sally promises that he$$ll be promoted within the next six

months.

$$ The accounting firm maintains a non$-$fraternization policy. $($Most accounting firms

prohibit supervisors from pursuing romantic relationships with subordinates.$)$

$$ For example, the firm$$s policy states the following:

$$ Managers are not permitted to date or pursue romantic or sexual

relationships with employees whom they supervise directly or

indirectly.

$$ Employees who violate this guideline will be subject to discipline,

up to and including termination.

$*$

Case adapted from $$Fraternization in Accounting Firms: A Case Study$$ by Heinze, Tim; Kizirian,

Tim; Leese, Wallace. Journal of College Teaching & Learning Vol. $1,$ Iss. $12,61-64.$

Questions

$1.$ What are the risks involved with maintaining Sam and Sally$$s relationship? How

would Powell describe their relationship dynamics?

$2.$ How might Sally be viewed by her coworkers, if word gets out about the

relationship? What impact would that have on the organization?

$3.$ What are the chances that Sam and Sally are in violation of their accounting

firm$$s non$-$fraternization policy?

$4.$ What actions should be taken by the organization if Sam and Sally are in

violation of their accounting firm$$s policy?

$5.$ How might their dissolved romance lead to a sexual harassment allegation? How

might the firm respond to a sexual harassment allegation?