According to IT ethics, what best describes the obligation of an IT professional to their employer?

• A. Loyalty to the employer is absolute.
• B. Loyalty to the employer is important but not unquestionable.
• C. There is no obligation to the employer.
• D. IT professionals must always follow employer orders, even illegal ones.

Answer: (B)

Loyalty to an employer is important but not unquestionable. IT ethics asks professionals to balance their duties to their employer with obligations to the public, users, and the law, guided by professional codes of conduct. When a directive is legal and ethical, it should be followed; when it conflicts with law or causes harm, it must be refused or escalated through proper channels, and in serious cases one should seek guidance or whistleblow as appropriate. This is why the best description is that loyalty matters, but not absolutely. The other views are too extreme: complete, unquestioning loyalty ignores legal and ethical limits; there is indeed an obligation to the employer within those limits; and always following orders—even illegal ones—violates law and professional ethics.