Job Promotion
At What Cost?
Alexis Babb, Hackworth Business Ethics Fellow 2013
Dan is an up-and-coming district manager at Tradewell Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in the country. Dan reports directly to Robert, the regional manager, who also happens to be a close friend from high school. Robert has been at the company longer than Dan, but there is some talk within the company that his region's numbers have been falling behind.
One afternoon, the bank's VP of Sales offers Dan a promotion to regional manager—Robert's job. To his dismay, Dan is told that Robert has not been similarly promoted, and instead Dan would be replacing Robert outright.
Dan's been working ridiculous hours in surpassing expectations for his district, and certainly feels deserving of the promotion, but replacing his friend is the last thing he wants to do.
What should Dan do?