A. Read the Case of Malou.

To Let Go or to Let Live: The Case of Malou

I am a Marketing Personnel of a reputable institution in Makati. I have been connected with this company for the past three years. In those years, I have delivered more than what was expected of me. After the department head resigned two years ago, I was made to do some of his roles. Eventually, I got appointed as head of our department pro tempore.

My dilemma started one Monday afternoon when the President of our organization called me for a brief closed-door meeting.

"I called for you to discuss Malou. One of her clients remitted forty thousand in cash as payment for their loan. Unfortunately, this amount did not reach our office. It was with Malou for over two weeks, with obviously malicious reasons."

"Having heard that this particular client is about to call our attention, she immediately went to the client and paid back the amount in two separate payments within one week. After which, we immediately proceeded to our personnel department to air the matter. As you may well know, we cannot tolerate this kind of practice in our organization."

As the boss narrated the details, I was already expecting a question from him. The boss asked me "What is your opinion on this matter? Should we let Malou go?"

I was hesitant to provide the decision right there and then because the thought that was going through my mind was who am I to decide on this issue. After expressing this concern of mine, he asked me, "Put yourself in my position. What would you do?"

A week before the boss called my attention, Malou had confided to me her situation. First, her financial requirements in order to keep up with her loans (bad loans at that); second, the difficulty she was experiencing raising two children on her own after a painful separation, and of course, her salary that could hardly cover the rising cost of living.

When the boss raised me the question, what lingered on my mind was the welfare of the children, her troubled finances, and her remorse (when she remitted all that she got from the client). On the other hand was the company policy, the integrity of the company that was tarnished with this one client, and the other employees who have learned about the totality of the incident.

With all the trust that I have earned all these years from my boss, it is likely that my opinion will bear a great deal as to the fate of Malou.

If you were in my position, what would you recommend my boss?