You are an independent contractor. The due date for your current project falls fairly close to your vacation, which means you are going to miss a deadline to deliver some work to your client. Which of the following statements in a progress report sent before your deadline is most ethical?
A) I anticipate meeting the deadline.
B) Against my protestations, the project manager pressured me to accept an overly aggressive schedule.
C) I did not realize how much my vacation would affect my work hours. I might need 1-2 extra days to complete everything.
D) I have never missed a deadline with a client.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most ethical option is to be honest with the client about the potential delay in the project's completion. Option A is not honest since the contractor already knows they will not meet the deadline. Option B portrays the blame on someone else rather than taking responsibility for the situation. Option D does not provide useful information for the client and suggests the contractor is more interested in their reputation than the current situation. Option C provides an explanation for the delay and a potential solution, while still taking responsibility for the situation.

You Are an Independent Contractor