Question

You work for a company that manages apartment buildings. The company did not renew their contract with a local landscaping company and are now looking for a new company to provide landscaping services to the apartment complex. You are asked by management to locate a new landscaping company. Your son runs his own lawn care business, and if he gets the contract for the apartment complex you will no longer have to make his car payments for him and he might even start paying you rent. This situation brings up a potential ________ for you.

Answer 1

Answer:

This situation brings up a potential conflict of interest for you.

Explanation:

"A conflict of interest occurs when an entity or individual becomes unreliable because of a clash between personal (or self-serving) interests and professional duties or responsibilities. Such a conflict occurs when a company or person has a vested interest, such as money, status, knowledge, relationships, or reputation, which puts into question whether their actions, judgment, and/or decision-making can be unbiased. When such a situation arises, the party is usually asked to remove themselves, and it is often legally required of them."

Then you should ask to remove yourself from the new landscaping company decision making if your son's company is an option among them.

Reference:  Segal, Troy. “How to Tell When's There's a Conflict of Interest.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 29 Apr. 2019