Which of the following behaviors is an example of unethical selling affecting employee relationships?

The behavior of a salesperson claiming to have completed a transaction before it has been formalized is a clear example of unethical selling that can negatively impact employee relationships. This type of behavior can lead to issues of trust and credibility within the sales team and the broader organization. When a salesperson misrepresents the status of a deal, it can cause confusion, disappointment, and anger among team members who may have been relying on accurate information to make informed decisions.

Furthermore, such actions can undermine the collective efforts of the sales team and create a toxic work environment where employees feel they cannot depend on or collaborate with one another effectively. Ethically, sales staff should be transparent and honest about their efforts and achievements to foster a culture of integrity and teamwork.

In contrast, the other choices do not primarily illustrate unethical behavior directly impacting employee relationships. For instance, changes in commission based on territory restructuring can impact morale but are typically part of business strategy rather than unethical practices. Similarly, awarding contracts or handling product performance information might involve ethical considerations, but they don't showcase direct unethical selling actions that would affect employee relationships as prominently as the false claim of a completed transaction.