As Chief Engineer of the XYZ Company, you interviewed and subsequently hired Mr. A for an engineering position on your staff. During the interview, Mr. A spoke of his engineering experience in Quebec where he had worked most recently and he stated "he was also a member of the Ordre des ingnieurs du Qubec."

You assumed that he was a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario. You had business cards prepared for his use describing Mr. A as Professional Engineer, and accepted and used these cards without comment.

Some months later, you received a client company complaint about Mr. A calling himself a Professional Engineer when, in fact, he did not hold an Ontario license to practice. Upon investigation you found this to be the case. You terminated Mr. A immediately.

What is your ethical position in this matter? What is Mr. A's ethical position? Did you act appropriately? Did Mr. A act appropriately? Should either of you have done anything differently?

Please use PEO Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct as a guide