Ethics and business
For the budget-conscious in today’s economically troubled times, several dilemmas for the price of one.
Dilemma 40
Dilemma 42
Dilemma 43
Dilemma 40
Sandra, who works in the typing pool, is slacking off. Jackie tries to get Bob to go with her to see Mustafa about it, but Bob thinks that because they can handle the work, there’s no need. This implies that the company could sack Sandra if Jackie and Bob can cope with the work, but this may be a short-term view since the volume may vary at different times of the year (which suggests that they could hire a temp when needed). There’s no suggestion in the scenario that anyone allocates the typing to be done, which implies that the work is done by the first person who’s free to do it. Really, Jackie should bring Sandra’s poor work ethic to the company’s attention.
But then Jackie finds out that Sandra’s filching company software. Since that’s theft, then an ethical employee would report the case to management. Also, Jackie is spurred on by Sandra’s indolence, although I’m sure Kant wouldn’t approve of her motivation to do the right thing. The other options are for a.) Jackie to pinch the software as well; or b.) have a quiet word with Sandra. The first would be unethical and lower Jackie to Sandra’s level; the second seems unlikely to achieve anything much. Jackie becomes a grass and Bob can never trust her.
Dilemma 41But then Jackie finds out that Sandra’s filching company software. Since that’s theft, then an ethical employee would report the case to management. Also, Jackie is spurred on by Sandra’s indolence, although I’m sure Kant wouldn’t approve of her motivation to do the right thing. The other options are for a.) Jackie to pinch the software as well; or b.) have a quiet word with Sandra. The first would be unethical and lower Jackie to Sandra’s level; the second seems unlikely to achieve anything much. Jackie becomes a grass and Bob can never trust her.
There has been a complaint about the music which gets played in the print room. The boss, Mustafa, can either do nothing because most people like the music anyway or perhaps suggest varying the music from day to day. Mustafa should ban music in the print room so that no one has cause to complain because they’re not there to listen to music anyway. Straw polls which show that most of the employees in the print room don’t mind the music can be ignored because the company is not a democracy.
Of course, if Mustafa bans the music, everyone will know that Tony was the cause of the ban. Tony might want to STFU.
Of course, if Mustafa bans the music, everyone will know that Tony was the cause of the ban. Tony might want to STFU.
Dilemma 42
Jackie’s all bothered again. Remember how I said above that Bob shouldn’t trust her? He was right. She finds out that Bob is HIV positive and complains to Mustafa (who, honestly, might be better off sacking Jackie because she’s a major cause of the stress-related illnesses he suffers from). But because the law says that you can’t discriminate against people who have AIDS, Mustafa should have a word with Jackie and remind everyone else what the legal position is. (It seems HIV and AIDS are confused in the scenario because, as far as I recall, HIV doesn’t entail AIDS.)
Dilemma 43
The gang have to work one weekend shredding documents. Bob gets badly injured, but thinks it’s his fault. Sandra knows better because she’s meant to have put that shredder, which the last safety inspection concluded probably had a problem, in the cupboard.
Should Sandra
1. a.) Report what she knows so that the machine can be dealt with and b.) offer to speak on Bob’s behalf;
or
2. Say nothing to protect the company?
If Bob says anything, Sandra isn’t prepared to appear as a witness.
It’s all a matter of duty. Since this is Sandra, she’ll probably say nothing, thus placing the company, which would be liable for Bob’s injuries, above the individual. Even if Bob claims compensation of some sort from the the company, it’d be less damaging for them financially if the truth wasn’t known.
But these things have a way of coming unravelled. If Bob asked for compensation, the matter would be investigated, and the shredder found to be faulty and to have been noted as such during a safety inspection. Sandra’s failure to put the machine away would then be revealed. She might be better off squawking like a canary because there’s enough evidence for her liability to be revealed.
In other words, if Sandra is dutiful to the company, the potential fallout is far greater than if she’d spoken up for Bob, whether it was voluntarily or after he'd made his own claim. Jackie could then mention that Sandra is a software-stealing slacker, which undermines her apparent dutifulness.
Oh what a tangled web we weave.
Should Sandra
1. a.) Report what she knows so that the machine can be dealt with and b.) offer to speak on Bob’s behalf;
or
2. Say nothing to protect the company?
If Bob says anything, Sandra isn’t prepared to appear as a witness.
It’s all a matter of duty. Since this is Sandra, she’ll probably say nothing, thus placing the company, which would be liable for Bob’s injuries, above the individual. Even if Bob claims compensation of some sort from the the company, it’d be less damaging for them financially if the truth wasn’t known.
But these things have a way of coming unravelled. If Bob asked for compensation, the matter would be investigated, and the shredder found to be faulty and to have been noted as such during a safety inspection. Sandra’s failure to put the machine away would then be revealed. She might be better off squawking like a canary because there’s enough evidence for her liability to be revealed.
In other words, if Sandra is dutiful to the company, the potential fallout is far greater than if she’d spoken up for Bob, whether it was voluntarily or after he'd made his own claim. Jackie could then mention that Sandra is a software-stealing slacker, which undermines her apparent dutifulness.
Oh what a tangled web we weave.
Tomorrow’s dilemma is the last from the world of business and a little matter of service to a person’s country.
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