John Pyke is the executive and top senior adviser at the firm and takes time to personally mentor and train new recruits,to make sure they become familiar and comfortable with their role and also become familiar with the firm's culture.John invites you regularly to his home for dinner and you also regularly help him out as a family friend.This is surprising to you at first,but as the weeks go by it doesn't seem unusual to you,especially given the professionalism shown by both Sarah and her partner,senior adviser John,in the workplace.Both John and Sarah are able to separate their personal life from their professional engagements.

You later learn that John was part of the committee for both the promotion and the probation.Given the performance of the firm,especially in the real estate investment area,John was eligible to receive a bonus for his leadership.What you initially assumed to be good professional behaviour turned out to be more,as it eventually becomes clear to you that Sarah & John are deliberately distant from each other because no one in the firm,except you and a few senior executives,have knowledge about their relationship.While you are convinced that both John & Sarah have worked professionally and have achieved their success purely on their own skill and merit,it still troubles you that their personal relationship outside work has not been more transparently disclosed.

Even though there are no behavioural issues of concern regarding how John & Sarah interact and work together at the firm,it still troubles you that there is so much secrecy surrounding their relationship.In addition to his salary,John was also entitled to bonuses in connection with the recent success of Sarah in her work leading the real estate investment side of the firm's financial advice service.John and the other executives do not feel concerned about the media reports,dismissing the issues raised as baseless claims.One day you have a conversation with a fellow graduate regarding what you knew about John & Sarah,and how they may be connected to the issues the firm is facing.

The issues are further problematic given that John has knowledge of Sarah's contractual status.In some instances,Sarah had to report directly to John especially when time came for probationary meetings and promotion reviews.You approach John to discuss some of these issues.John feels that his relationship with Sarah is private and is no one's business,and he feels he has done his part by disclosing the relationship to a few key top executives in the firm but not to the rest of the organisation.

John has asked you to not bring his personal life to the attention of junior staff and those outside the firm,as it would make his life difficult and he may even have to resign.John feels that the details of his personal life should remain confidential for his and Sarah's sake.If you were to file an internal complaint about the lack of transparency and disclosure regarding the personal relationship between John & Sarah,there is a strong possibility that John may not only be stripped of the bonus for failing to properly declare that Sarah was his partner,but both may lose their credibility and reputation as talented financial advisers.The lack of timely and responsible disclosure will make John and other senior executives responsible for the alleged mismanagement,underperformance,and poor governance reported by the media.

What are the ethical issues of this case