I was using my boss’s computer today, while mine was being fixed. She had left her paycheck on her desk, partially covered by some other papers, but with the amount end sticking out. I saw it – couldn’t help it. No big deal, and I would never repeat such information to anyone.
But when I mentioned to my SO that I had seen it, he said I should have put it in her desk drawer. Our office is quite secure, so I’m not concerned about anyone else going in there and taking it, and it’s not out in plain sight anyway, unless one is sitting at her desk. If I moved it, she would know that I saw it, and that would be awkward. So I just left it there, didn’t touch any of the papers on top of it, and I’m going to pretend like I never saw it.
If she realizes that I may have seen it and asks me, I intend to say, “I wasn’t poking around on your desk, just using your computer.” (And she’s fine with me using her computer, rummaging through her desk drawers for stuff, or even checking her e-mail while she’s gone. She’s given me all of her passwords, so no secrets.)
What should I have done? Put the check in a drawer, thus alerting her that I know now her salary? Or ignored it and pretended that I didn’t notice it?
You were correct not to touch it; nobody would be benefited by relocating it for her. If she really cared about other people seeing it, she wouldn’t have left it out; and as you say there was little risk of it being taken. Moving it into hiding would only have complicated the situation (perhaps even making her think it had been lost or stolen, if she remembered that she hadn’t put it in the drawer and didn’t think to look there).
I might be revealing my lack of experience in corporate affairs with this question, but if she trusts you with this information, would she really mind you seeing her paycheck? Giving you those passwords and letting you check her email is a huge sign of trust, and it sounds as if she’s very comfortable with you knowing a lot about her.
I was in our church financial manager’s office when she wasn’t there (doing something legitimate, I forget what). I saw some sort of notice on her desk that had a grammatical error. The next day, talking to her on the phone, I mentioned what I saw and pointed out the error. Her response was that she wasn’t pleased with the idea that people who were in her office would be reading things, even if they were lying around in plain sight. Lesson: pretend you never saw it.