Ethics Scenario #68: Gantry Institution

68. Brian serves as the senior policy advisor for the Gantry Institution, a Washington-based think tank. By day, he soaks up knowledge, and occasionally writes white papers for his employer. By evening, he hits the speaker’s circuit, charging as much as $1,000 plus expenses for an hour speech. He used to share some of his speaking fees with the organization, but no longer does so, as he feels that his time after 5 p.m. is his own. He refuses to tell his employer about these speaking engagements and the amount of money he makes from them, saying that it is none of their business.

a. Is Brian’s behavior ethical?