Scenario: Difficult to Ignore

This scenario contains explicit language and references to sexual situations, including reference to sexual advances, which may be emotionally activating for some people. If you need support, you can contact the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) at 1-844-750-1648 (24/7/365) or access the services for Canadian Armed Forces members and Defence Team employees.

Group Size: 4-15

Scenario

You are an instructor at a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) training establishment. You work with another instructor who is very popular amongst the school staff. Very quickly, you develop a friendship with this individual. 

After several months, you begin to suspect that he has an alcohol-related problem. Although he is never late for work, he always seems exhausted in the mornings and his eyes are often bloodshot. His eyes are often glassy after lunch, and you know he keeps a large bottle of mouthwash in his desk. Several times, when working late, he was giddy, and his breath smelled of alcohol. You approached him, but he denied that he was using alcohol in the workplace. 

You let it go, but during a course party, a few students recount some stories. They discuss how, on more than one occasion, he appeared at the quarters after-hours drunk and made sexual advances towards students.

Categories

Facilitator’s Guide

Learning Objectives

Facilitation Questions

  1. What would you do in this situation? What are the considerations? 
    • Open group discussion.
    • Ethical concerns: You are concerned, not only for the health of a member of the teaching staff, but also for the safety of the students. As a friend, you want to make sure that he gets help and that he does not incriminate himself or jeopardize his career. Does abuse of power come into play in this scenario?
    • Personal factors: This situation requires a level of sensitivity however, there can be conflict between what you ethically must do to protect students, and how you feel about maintaining your friendship and protecting your colleague.
    • Environmental factors: Your friend’s conduct can harm students and will impact the reputation of the training establishment. He is not setting a good example for the candidates or for junior staff members. It is possible that other members of the school are aware of his situation but are choosing to ignore it.
    • Psychological safety concerns: Potential risk of harm and effects on psychological safety for all parties, especially if comments have been made to you regarding their discomfort and/or sexual advances.
  2. What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?
    • This scenario depicts a competing values dilemma because of the difficulty in differentiating your loyalty to a colleague who needs help versus your responsibility as a CAF member to look after your colleague AND your students well-being. FIt is ethically unacceptable to do nothing, especially since his behaviour is impacting the candidates His behaviour in the quarters cannot be ignored.
  3. What are potential courses of action that could be taken in this scenario? 
    • Option 1: Talk to him and mention that his behaviour is having an impact on the candidates. Recommend seeking professional help from a Medical Officer (MO) or someone else in the chain of command. He might deny using alcohol in the workplace and refuse to comply. Advise him that, if he refuses, you will choose to involve the chain of command.
    • Option 2: Speak to someone in the chain of command and voice your concerns. The chain of command will decide how to handle the situation. Your friend may be removed from the school.
    • Option 3: Ignore it and do nothing. Based on the discussion, this option is not recommended as inaction has consequences.
    • Option 4: Also, consider supporting candidates. Provide leadership discussion with the candidates offering support if any have experienced inappropriate behaviour by any of the Training establishment’s staff or colleagues.

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