Clients' rights are not being overtly violated because when they register for our referral services, they do not divulge any sensitive information. One could say they are assuming risk when they fill out our forms. On the other hand, when the client sees the doctor, social worker, or therapist, he or she does divulge sensitive information and does expect total confidentiality. The office workers also keep the jokes, and especially client names, within office walls. From this point-of-view, clients' rights are not actually being violated at all.
Similarly, it would be almost impossible for the client, the brunt of the joke, to find out about or be hurt by the gossip because when employees joke they do so without any references to the client's address or other vital information. A utilitarian could therefore argue that because the gossip causes more pleasure for the employees than it does pain for the clients, there is nothing morally wrong with the action. The few employees that are uncomfortable endure it as part of the tyranny of the majority, just as we have to endure other codes of behavior in the office like not being able to play games during the lunch break.
On the other hand, using utilitarian ethics to justify misusing client material by joking can be problematic. Joking about our clients' personal information represents an essential...
If I knew that my pharmacist was joking behind my back about my ailments I would be furious. Likewise, when an individual signs up as a client with our referral company, he or she expects to be treated with the utmost respect.
If a client happened to be listening in on the gossip, he or she might not by overtly hurt, but he or she would be embarrassed and angry. Furthermore, the gossip could be detrimental to our business. If clients found out about the jesting, it would also cost our company business and could potentially bring about a lawsuit. Finally, employees like me who are occasionally uncomfortable with the jokes also feel that our personal rights are being violated. From this viewpoint, the gossip and joking, however innocent and however "harmless," are indeed amoral and might even be ultimately harmful to business.
Recently, one of our coworkers made a solid move to change the interoffice behavior by trying to discuss the issue with office management. However, because the owners are laissez-faire, it is unlikely that the office workers will change their behavior. Management has expressed concern and has casually mentioned that we should maintain a more "professional" attitude while working, but it is unlikely the joking will stop.
