Question

You are the computer system administrator for a mid-sized company. You can monitor the company
network from home, and you frequently work from home. Your niece, a college student, is visiting for
a week. She asks to use your computer to check her e-mail. Sure, you say. You are being a gracious
host. What is the ethical problem?

Answer 1

Answer:

You are giving special treatment to your nephew by allowing him unauthorized and potentially unfettered access to the company network. Had the person be someone unrelated, you are very much likely to NOT have extended this generosity, despite your claim of being a gracious host.

It’s nepotism because it is highly unlikely you would extend such generosity as a host if the person was not your nephew.

Also, how does a college student in this day and age not afford to bring his own computer for a week’s vacation? Don’t tell me you’re THAT sort of family.

Lastly, no one calls themselves a gracious host, visitors call you a gracious host. People who insist they are gracious hosts are likely not and just deluded.