Horrible situation

dumbfounded99

Basically: an employee was tasked with negotiating a new contract with an outsourced worker. The worker seemed very emotional in negotiations which confused the employee as it should've been a reasonably simple thing.

Confused, the employee pressed the worker for explanation. The worker told the employee that the employee's supervisor (a senior person above everyone) has basically propositioned the outsourced worker for sexual favours (more than once) in return for a renewed and improved contract. This outsourced worker has begged the employee to drop it and to tell no one.

The employee just told me, in a distressed state asking me what they should do? Should they report it now further up the chain? It is a bitty story and the victim may not be cooperative. But they also feel exposed if they do nothing given what they've been told.

What would you do?

Things to consider:
* The stated right of the victim to privacy
* The rights of the victim and concern for their future safety
* The fact that this is heresay and there is no further evidence
* The fact that the employee now feels exposed, vulnerable and conflicted themselves.
* The fact that I now know, what obligations do I face, both morally and legally?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.