Work Ethic: When Your Spouse Works for a Competitor

There are couples who discover that they make a living with two rival companies. It is even more interesting when both parties are at managerial levels in their workplaces. This scenario can create tension in the home if not addressed properly.

The case is cited of a woman who, in good faith, shared a project idea with her husband over dinner. Later, the husband found himself in a bind when he attended a meeting with her bosses and didn’t have an idea ready to present. You guessed it; she gave the same presentation his wife had shared with him and had his company implement the proposal before the competition.

To avoid this type of incident, it is recommended that the couple agree that they will not take sensitive work home and, if they do, they will encrypt their data or lock their documents. It is also advisable not to talk all together about office matters while you are at home.

With technological advances, simple devices like mobile phones can synchronize our office emails and any documents attached to emails. This means that our valuable business presentations can be viewed on the phone. To prevent access to information, put a phone code all the time. It would also help if you agreed with your spouse to have a business phone and a social phone.

It is a felony and a violation of most company policies to share valuable information with a competitor, even a spouse. The work ethic also demands integrity and discretion. Treat office information with care today.