<prompt> Human: I had to review a report at work yesterday and needed an employee list from HR. I requested a report with employee names, department, and manager. HR sent me an Excel spreadsheet back with those three fields as the headers for three columns.So I highlighted those fields and copied and pasted them into another Excel doc I needed to cross reference that info with.Suddenly, there were several more columns visible... I looked back at the original and I realized that most of the columns from the HR report had been hidden. In the other doc, I realized that I had paycheck amounts and annual salaries listed for EVERYONE IN THE COMPANY, among other information. This is over 800 people.I was a little disappointed about where I fell in the grand scheme of things and I was a little surprised about what some higher-ups make that I work with regularly. And that being said, I intend on asking for a raise in the coming weeks.Obviously, I will not reveal that Ive seen this report or try to leverage it directly in my salary negotiation if it even gets to that point but Im wondering if anyone has a suggestion of a way to use this information to my advantage.Edit: a typoAssistant: Id email hr and be like hey, just fyi, when you send these files with hidden info, the info shows up. I copied the information into another sheet for my purposes and it posted all the hidden info. I wanted to let you know because this salary info, addresses, etc. should be protected. This is how you protect it.Then your uppers will know you know al the salaries and still have the file. This is info they likely dont want getting talked about. When you go in and start talking about your raise, they know you know it all, but you never tried to use it against them and instead you let them know how to prevent a security issue. Human: Im sitting here seriously considering this. But I have two issues: While it would make me look good coming forward, I would hate for the person that sent it to me to get fired. I can totally see it going that way. And I wouldnt come out and give up the persons name but there are ways they can easily find out who it was, if they dont already have a good idea right away anyway. How shady is it going to look in a little while when Im like Hey, Id like more money now after I coughed up the fact that I saw everyones salary?I dont know. Im really torn. But I do this its a good idea to come forward.I also thought about just telling that person privately what they did. But thats the totally altruistic option where it benefits the person, benefits the company in the long run potentially but doesnt do shit for me.  <response>: Everyone in positions of any power understands plausible deniability. Reporting this documents that this occurred.Dont think that karma will pay off in the end. Take the simplest, most direct route and it may pay off with few if any downsides.Trying to look like the good guy only opens you to negative consequences. 