This exercise in Ethics has brought up feelings that would
have me write this paper a lot different as (this is the third version of this
paper due to changing views on how I should write it) I had to S-TLC this paper
a few times to get the more logical answer to these questions. Except the
listen phase is me listening to myself read my paper out loud. I have taken the approach of Ethic versus
Justice, I then realized it was more of right versus wrong. How I view this assignment is what is right
or what is wrong and I will attempt to do what is right. Ethics are defined as rules
of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a
particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics. Here are my
rules of conduct.
The Boss’s Expense
Report
In this scenario the boss gives me blank expense report
and ask me to fill it in to reflect three hundred dollar. It is then asked what I would do. The answer is not just cut and dry the
question that I would ask in this case is what the company’s policy about this
case is. Is it there a threshold on the amount that needs to have an accurate
detail of how the money is spent, or does every case need a detailed no matter
the amount? Does the company owe this
individual? There are instances where the person has had to come out of pocket
to cover expenses to the company and was never reimbursed. Does it make it right that the person didn’t
keep a receipt and the company gets to get over on the individual because of
loop hole or technicality? Let’s cover
these scenarios.
If the company allows for a three hundred dollar or less threshold
on expense reports then I would get with my boss and then attempt to recap what
he spent the money on once he return from their meeting. If the
company does not have the policy about the threshold I will then return the
blank expense report to my boss and tell them that they forgot to give me the
receipt/s, and if they want me to fill them out then they need to generate
these receipts. I would then gladly fill
put the report for them. If there is no valid reason that my boss can come up
with, that will justify the company giving my boss the three hundred dollars,
then there is no reason that I can justify filling out this report.
Now let us say that my boss is owed. I know that my boss comes out of pocket for
the company over and over again and never gets compensation for coming out of
pocket for the company then I have no problems with filling the form out.
As someone that has been through this type of situation
before I can tell you that this isn’t about ethic but more about what is right. Is it ethical for companies to profit from
the very people that do the work that keeps the very company afloat? The answer to that question is what does the
majority state. In the film “In the
Mouth of Madness” (1995) directed by John Carpenter there was a line in the
movie that stated that Sanity is a matter
of majority. If the masses state that
something is sane then is it. What would
you do is you woke one morning to find that you were no longer apart of the
majority? No matter what world I wake in I would do what I feel is
right. Take for example If a teacher
were to take paper from the supply closet to write a letter to the parents of
their student could they be fired? Yes. Now if that same teacher paid out of
pocket for their students’ school supplies and isn’t reimbursed for it is this
considered ethical. In this society the answer
to this is yes. Is it right I feel the
answer to that question is NO. I look at this scenario the same way is it just
for the individual to do what’s right and to be screwed over in the process? If the answer to this question is yes, then
no matter what the penalty for the action I would go against this every time.
Lunch Reservations
In this case the boss wants me to help him commit
adultery. The way that I feel about this
case it simple, the easiest case of them all.
The one thing that I would like to know in advance is if my boss is in
the process of getting divorced or separated.
As someone that has affected other and has been affected on a personnel
level by infidelity I understand complexities of this act. In this case I would simple go to my boss and
tell him that I’ve been in his shoes and would offer advice to him if he is
will to take it. If he is in the process
of getting divorced/separated then this means that he and his wife need time to
work things out. If he is willing to
complicate his situation by being in a physical relationship with another then
he isn’t giving himself time to find out why he is in this situation. If this is the situation that he wants to be
in then I would think that he would have no problem telling his wife. If he has a full understanding of why his
marriage did not work then he will be able to answer the questions that will
arise when his wife has questions. It would not be my place to answer the
questions the will come up if I were the one to answer these questions. This does cover if this wife were the one who
committed adultery first. Either way it
doesn’t matter to me.
Now if my boss is
not in the process of getting divorce then I would come to my boss and let him
know that I will either need to be transferred or be taken out of this
environment where I am being made to feel uncomfortable. As a Christian being a party to these actions
goes against my beliefs. It is my relationship with my God, the social world, and
sin that give meaning to my interpersonal ethical behavior in the workplace (
Ellison and Sherkat 1993). One thing that I have come to understand about
people like this is that if their moral compass allows them to treat the woman that they married like this then he will
be willing to much worst to me.
In either case if there is no immediate action is taken
then I will have to take it up line to higher.
If he is the highest I will have to look for another job. If asked by the wife where her husband is I
will not lie, but I will tell her that is a matter to be taken up by he and
her.
Dinner
a la Corporate Card
This
case states what I would do if a beautiful coworker took me out for a very
expensive dinner on the corporate card. Now
understand this if this question was posed to me like some eight years ago I
would give you a very different answer.
One that would reflect an episode of family guy and I was Brian. Since I am older and think with the head on
my shoulders here is what I would do.
The
first thing that I would do is pay for what we have ordered. If I can’t afford it then I would allow her
to pay for the meal. I would then state is that I understand that the person
must truly trust me to be doing something like this, to let her know that I know
that we are in this situation together.
Now once she understands that I have assumed some the
responsibility. I would then proceed to
let her know that what she has done has jeopardized our careers. If she is caught she will also take me down
with her. If she wants my advice I would tell her to turn herself in and tell
the company that she will be willing to work it off. I will also help in paying this debut
off. I also ate the meal so I do accept
some responsibility. If she isn’t will
to tell the company about her foully then I will not tell the company, and as
doing so I will be willing to take whatever consequence come to me. I will also have to disassociate myself from
this co-worker whether she is caught or not.
Her unwillingness to take this to the company and tell them about what
happened knowing that she has involved me just goes to show that she doesn’t
care for me.
The
Confidential Report
This case states that I
discovered that my company is one that in a scandal of the ages and I find out
through improper means. What would I
do? I refer to the situation that
happened those many years ago with Enron.
If this was the company and I found out that I was a part of a company
that was robbing people of their life savings.
I would quit and take the papers with me to be a whistle blower. How I feel about that is summed up in a Bible
verse “What does is profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?” I feel that if I have to succeed by causing
others grief and pain than my success is empty.
I have been one of the people that others have stepped on to get higher
in their careers. When you do that you
are creating a false sense of your own self-worth, because you did not EARN
what you have. Just like all those
victim of Enron they were the ones that made those executives rich, and got
nothing from it. Is that right? The answer is No. So if I am a part of a company like that and
I know what they are doing I am just as wrong as they are if I continue to work
for them or even if I do not say
something about what they are doing. It isn’t just enough to quit, I have to
stop them at the same time. It is my
responsibility as a human being (being right).
Party
Marty
This
dilemma involves Marty and taking the corporate keys to the condo. To this I say do it. Go have a party. If you are willing to do this that means that
you are under the impression that you won’t get caught. So let run a risk analysis.
Risk one-Your boss not finding
out that his key is missing. If he is
missing the key where will he look for it at?
If he cannot locate it all the places that he looked for them at what
will he do next? Will he come to you and
ask you if you have seen them? What will
you tell him? How will you get it back him without him know you took it? What is the worst that can happen if your
boss caught you about any of the above questions?
Risk two-Will the people that you
invite to the party keep the party a secret?
Can you trust everyone to behave at this party? Are you sure that the party will not get out
of hand and get the cops involved? Are
you sure that he people that you invite wont invite the wrong person? If any of
the above question result in corporate finding out about this party what is the
worst that can happen?
Risk Three- Who will this
affect? Since I now know about this and
you know that I will not tell the man about what you are doing. What will happen to me if you get caught? Since you took your bosses key without him
knowing what do you think that corporate will do to him? If the worst case scenario if that you get
fired how will this affect your family? The
last question is do you still want to have this party?
Now I would say to you be honest
about the answers that you give because if something were to come up and there
is a likelihood that something crazy has gone down you have to understand that
when the company looks at who would something like throw a wild party at the
corporate condo you will be one of the first people that the company will look
at. One thing that you do not understand
is that your behavior in the workplace give the company a clear indication of
your values. (Christopher Bauer 2007)
Conclusion
Each
case study is interesting. In the
article it states that you have to decide whom you are loyal to, yourself, your
boss, the company that hired you. I
listed them in the opposite order of the article because to me this is the
order that I believe that everyone should be loyal to because if you truly
loyal to yourself first then you will do the right thing. If you are guided by your morals, or by a
sense of loyalty to your boss or the company that hires you, you will find a
way to justify your actions. If you can
justify your action then your ethics have been upheld. Have they not? The beliefs that guide our actions right or
wrong are your ethics.
References
Dr. Christopher Bauer 2007. “Workplace Ethics: Your Values Are Showing” article located at
website http://www.sideroad.com/Ethics/workplace-ethics.html
Ellison, Christopher and Darren Sherkat. 1993. "Conservative Protestantism and Support for
Corporal Punishment." American Sociological Review
Michael De Luca 1995.
“In the Mouth of Madness” New
Line Cinema
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