Professionalism and Friendship

Wendy was a certified athletic trainer who worked for a prominent hospital sports medicine center on the East Coast. She had been employed for three years and was considered by her supervisors and peers to be a competent professional. As a major part of Wendy's responsibilities, she was assigned to provide athletic training services to a large suburban high school in one of the most affluent parts of the metro area. She had held this assignment for the entire three-year period that she had worked for the hospital and had formed close, friendly relationships with the high school staff and students.

Jan was Wendy's supervisor. She and Wendy were good friends who enjoyed doing things together outside of work. Jan also supervised four other athletic trainers who had similar job descriptions and responsibilities. Jan worked in the clinic in the mornings. Each afternoon she visited a different high school, both to provide supervision to the athletic trainer assigned there and to help in any way that was required.

Although Jan thought Wendy was a competent athletic trainer, she was concerned about one aspect of Wendy's job-related behavior. In Jan's opinion, Wendy had developed a mothering relationship with several girls on the high school basketball team. It was not uncommon for Wendy to eat lunch with the girls in the school cafeteria. She often visited the girls' homes after basketball games. On more than one occasion, she had entertained a few of the girls at her apartment. Jan was becoming increasingly concerned about this pattern of behavior, but had not said anything to Wendy yet because she was hopeful that Wendy would take care of the problem herself.

One day when Jan was visiting Wendy's school, she overheard several members of the girls' basketball team talking about the ski trip being planned at Wendy's parents' cabin in the northern part of the state. When Jan heard this, she decided she could no longer ignore the situation. Later that day, she confronted Wendy and asked her about the trip. Wendy explained that she and four of the girls were planning to go cross-country skiing at her parents' cabin for a weekend in about a month. All of the girls had received their parents' permission. Jan told Wendy that she did not approve of this kind of relationship with the athletes and strongly discouraged Wendy from taking the trip.

Two weeks later, Jan once again approached Wendy regarding the trip. Wendy told Jan that she still had not decided whether to go ahead with the plans or not. "Wendy," Jan responded, "let me make it clear to you. You will either cancel this trip or accept reassignment to another school effective immediately." The next day, Wendy told Jan that the trip had been canceled. Unfortunately, so had their friendship.

Questions for Analysis

1. In your opinion, did Jan act properly in her role as Wendy's supervisor by forcing her to cancel the ski trip? Why or why not? How would you handle the situation if you were in Jan's position?
2. How is Wendy's behavior toward the girls likely to impact the hospital? How will it affect Jan? How will it affect Wendy?
3. Was Wendy's behavior ethical? Why or why not?
4. Does a course of action exist that would change Wendy's behavior and, at the same time, preserve her friendship with Jan? What ethical dilemmas result when supervisors and supervisees form close friendships?
5. How could this situation have been avoided? What policies should the hospital consider that would address this kind of situation?