You are a student at UIS and have access to a full version, legal copy of MSDNAA (Microsoft) software. Some of the MSDNAA software that you can obtain free of charge costs hundreds of dollars at your local Best Buy store. Visio is a good example. (Prices change. But in this scenario, Visio costs hundreds!).

You really like your part-time job. You are learning a lot and enjoy the easy-going environment. More importantly, you really _need_ your job. You wonder how you'd even eat if you didn't have that paycheck twice a month. Good jobs are difficult to get. In fact, you have several friends who can't find any job at all!

You are up for your first annual review. Lately the company has let a few part-time people go and you are a little nervous about keeping your job. You think you are doing a good job at work, but you've heard that your supervisor's recommendation will carry a great deal of weight in deciding if you continue with your position. You understand that your boss values team support and co-workers backing each other up. You have a performance review with your supervisor in five days, on Friday. It is Monday, the beginning of that week.

Monday: Your supervisor stops by your desk and strikes up an easy conversation. He mentions his son who is in high school hopes to receive a college scholarship for a network design project. He is working on the project for a state competition. You mention that he might want to suggest his son use a software package called Visio because it makes for a professional presentation and will allow him to show off his design nicely.

Tuesday: Your supervisor finds you in the hallway, stops you, and says he and his son went to Best Buy and found the Visio package you had recommended. Your supervisor expresses his surprise that is cost nearly $800. He asks if you have a copy and you tell him that no, you don't. You've never needed it since you do programming, not network design. But you've heard friends really talk it up as a winning tool. Your conversation is interrupted when your supervisor is called to the phone.

Wednesday: Your supervisor stops by your desk and mentions that he sees you are on his calendar for your performance review on Friday. He's looking forward to it, he says. And, he continues, it reminds him that you are a student at UIS, and, he continues, isn't that where they have the MSDNAA program that gives students a free, fully licensed copy of Microsoft software, software like Visio? In fact, he goes on, he's sure now that he thinks about it that you can get a copy and, since you've already said you don't need Visio yourself, you can give it to him for his son. It will be better if his son just registers it himself in case he needs to call for tech support. (He looks you straight in the eye). He goes on to explain that he definitely doesn't want to use any of those other programs that are supposed to do the same thing. He checked those out. No way! He only wants the best for his son! And you can make this happen. Yes! Now he'd really appreciate that, and, after all, it's nothing out of your pocket. Well, with the performance report he can write up about you, you might even get a company raise! He grins with comradery, gives you a friendly pat on the back and turns to leave saying, "We sure could use that Visio package before Friday!" You swallow as he continues. "Thanks, kiddo. I knew I could count on you. We support each other around here. See you later this week."

You know it is forbidden for you to give any MSDNAA product you receive through UIS' program to another person. You should have spoken up. But there wasn't enough time to react let alone think! You begin to rationalize that no one's really going to know if you give him Visio anyway. And what's one little software package to an industry giant like Microsoft. Didn't they basically cheat other companies anyway to get to the top!

Still, on the ride home at the end of the day, you feel trapped. You really don't want to do something that seems morally wrong. But you also don't want to lose your job.

How can you get out of this situation, saving your job and staying on the good side of your supervisor? BE SPECIFIC. Tell me specifically what you can say and how you can say it. Or tell me specifically what you can do and how you would do it. Remember, your goal is to save your job, retain a good relationship with your supervisor, and not hand over VISIO illegally (which is exactly what your supervisor wants and expects)