The employee confronted the boss, who swore the employee to secrecy. The employee, feeling loyalty and friendship to co-workers, was struggling over the issue. The adviser said to keep quiet, that the leak would be traced and that the merger might not go through. To an extent. The employee's big mistake was discussing the memo with the boss.
Walls have ears.
If word leaks out, no matter how, management will blame theemployee. If the proposal fails, the company is merger-minded and will pursue another consolidation. I suggest that the unfortunate employee who discovered that a merger is about to pounce on an unsuspecting work force quickly move on to another job where hints can be dropped at a safe distance. Personal replies are not possible. Tribune Media Services Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 27, 2001.