Workplace Ethics Report

November 4, 2021 by Essay Writer

Introduction

Ethics has been a major issue in the contemporary world in the field of business and the society. Madison defines ethics as acting in conscious of the policies of an organization, laws and regulation, morals and standards of a given country (41). Ethics is very vital for the prosperity of any given organization or individual. There are standard ways in which an individual is expected to behave when in a given context.

These expectations must be met so that the society may approve of the individual (Tribe and Dorf 36). However, an individual may find himself/herself in an awkward situation when there is need to balance between the expectations of the society and the demands for job. One may be forced to make a decision that may contradict what the society considers moral because of the requirements of job. The cases study below is a reflection of situations where one has to make hard decisions and remain ethical in the face of society.

Environment: Something is Rotten in Hondo- a Case Study

Ethical Issues

George Mackee is a diligent man who is determined to make a positive differential change not only to his friends and relatives, but also to the entire society of Texas and the United States of America. He sees himself as a responsible citizen who should work hard in order to provide for his family and friends.

He also values the environment as the source of future livelihood. However, George finds himself in a difficult situation. The problems arise from the need to preserve the environment from pollution by his company. He has the following problems to face and handle carefully.

The company’s emissions are beyond the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The company will therefore be fined in the meantime for the damage they have caused in the environment and for the breach of contract, they signed on environment protection. The company will then put preventive measures in order ensure that this pollution ends. However, the company is not in a position to buy new scrubbers due to the financial constrains. A solution must be found as soon as possible.

The second problem is the need to move out of Hondo as a measure to avoid the fines imposed by the environmental agency. This will not only deprive Hondo of infrastructural development, but also render many individuals of this area jobless, some being friends and relatives of George. He must be sensitive of the needs of the society and avoid a situation that may make it view him as one who does not care about their concerns.

Possible Alternatives

In the first problem where the company is fined for environmental pollution, this manager may opt for of the two options: either relocate to Mexico or consider scheduling their heavy omission at night. By moving to Mexico, the company shall have eliminated the stringent rules put in place by the environmental protection agency.

They will be free to do their production at any time of the day without the worry of breaching any law or regulation. This will help them recover more margins so that they may be in a position to purchase new scrubbers to curb the pollution rate. Since the management is not able to find a solution to this problem as at present and the environmental regulator is continuing to issue fines that are hindering the company’s finances, this may be a very attractive solution to the management.

This is specifically so because the business owner has already made inquiries about the new locations and the authorities there have given him the green light. The other solution may be to reschedule the heavy omission to be at night. Other companies doing the same are getting away with it. The environmental agency has fined this company while other companies, which are in worse states, are doing their passing the set standards simply because they are doing their production at night.

The second problem is to move out of Honda hence rendering many people in this location jobless. There may be two alternatives to this problem. The company may decide to move out of this location for a while but promise the workers of a quick return the moment they are able to adhere to the demands of the environmental agency, or to compensate the workers as an appreciation and make a permanent exit from this town.

Ethics for the Alternatives

In the first problem, the first alternative was to move to Mexico. The ethics in this will be that the company shall have avoided the direct confrontation with the environmental agency. It will be going to a place that considers its rates of pollution as normal. This decision focuses on the properties inherent to the action; hence, it is based on non-consequential theory. The second alternative of rescheduling heavy omissions at night is considerable unethical.

However, this may be the only option if the company is to stay any longer in this location and continue offering the locals job opportunities, which they need most. This option is based on consequential theory as the stay will continue offering the locals job, but should the environmental agency realize the new strategy, the fine can be more severe.

The fist alternative in the second problem is very ethical. The company is very sensitive both to the needs of its current employees and the environmental body. It is a virtue based theory as it plans to move away for a while till it is able to abide by the law and then come back to offer the locals job opportunities. The other alternative of compensating the employees is also ethical. It is an appreciation for their good work. It is based on non-consequential theory, as the company may not directly feel the outcome of the compensation.

The Best Action Plan

In the first case, the company should consider moving to Mexico as the best decision. In so doing, it will avoid long court cases and huge fines that may arise if the environmentalists realize the new tactic of polluting the air at night. It will be sensitive to the need to have a clean environment.

This leads us to the best alternative for the second problem of moving out of Hondo. The company should consider moving out of this location just for a while and come back when they are able to keep up with the regulations of the environmentalists. By moving to Mexico, they will still be polluting the environment, which is not ethical. This alterative is based on virtue ethics as it aims at restoring the jobs of those who will be laid off after some time.

Commercial Banking: The Curious Loan Approval – a Case Study

Ethical Issues

Adam is concerned that his boss, Mary Ryan may be involved in unethical business practices as a commercial loans officer Farmwood National Bank. The issues that arise in this particular case study are as follows. Mitchell Foods was overleveraged in its application for a short-term loan.

This company did not meet the requirements necessary for it to be awarded the loan. When Adam tried raising the issue with the boss, he was brushed off and told that the criteria he was using in the evaluation was not always a priority to the credit committee. The memorandum he had Sure enough, it went through this committee and the loan was awarded.

The second issue concerns the same boss. She is awarded a personal mortgage loan at abnormally attractive rate. She is allowed a 100 percent, fixed rate financing for the next five years at a 2 percent below the normal rate.

Possible Alternatives

Adam has two alternative course of action for the first problem. He can keep quite about the issue and try to work as per the advice of the boss. The credit committee has approved the request and things are running normally. Moreover, the boss is known for her shrewd approach to her work. She is a role model and for him to reach where she has reached, she will need to be an ally to her. It is only through this that they will be able to work as a team.

Alternatively, he can raise the concern with the management. It is weird that a company that has not qualified for a loan is awarded such in disregard to the laid down regulations. From his college he was taught to always maintain integrity in all his duties as a credit officer. The fact that the memorandum he had written about the issue was brushed off by the boss raises further suspicion. The management should therefore be alerted about the same and an investigation should be launched about the same.

In the second issue of awarding Mary a mortgage loan at abnormally low rates, he can take either of the two options. He can approach Mary and inquire from her how she managed to get the mortgage. He should inquire from her if the mortgage that was awarded to her is related to the loan that was awarded to Mitchell Foods. They can address the issue between them and if need be, he should advice her to always be ethical in her undertakings as a professional credit officer.

Alternatively, he can raise the issue with the management. He can decide to link the controversial loan awarded to Mitchell Foods to the mortgage loan given to Mary. This is because the chair of the board at Bay Street Savings (which awarded Mary the mortgage loan) is also the owner of Mitchell Foods.

Ethics for the Alternatives

For the first case, Adam may keep quite because he is not sure of the irregularity. He is just a few months old in this firm and he is not aware of some of the modalities that take place in the department. The management approved the loan just as his boss had informed him.

It may be painful that the memorandum that he had written about the same was disregarded, but it is not very advisable to start brushing shoulders with everyone the wrong way. He will be avoiding the repercussions that may be accompanied with direct confrontation; hence, it is a non-consequential theory. He should take his time and learn the job. He will be able to know when there are irregularities in the operations in the bank. He shall have also known the best approach to take in case of such a situation.

The other alternative of raising the issue with the management is ethical, though the accompanying consequences may be devastating. He can talk to the management about the memorandum that was neglected and the omissions that were made when the board sat to approve the loan application. This is a consequential theory as this action may raise serious reactions that may result in a punitive action taken should there be a proof that there was a malpractice in the process of awarding the loan.

For the second issue of controversial award of mortgage loan to Mary, Adam can directly approach Mary and talk to her about his suspicion. This is ethical because the two will be able to talk as colleagues and settle the suspicion. They are teammates and should not loose trust of each other.

This approach will build trust and they will be able to approach future cases in an amicable way. The decision to involve the management is a sure way to fight unethical issues in running of the activities of the bank. He will be standing firm with the set rules and regulation set for the running of his job. It will be a clear show that he tolerates not, unethical behavior.

The Best Action Plan

For the first case, the best cause of action will be to keep quite and monitor the activities taking place in the department. He should not rush as this may result in actions that may be regrettable. He should therefore consider having an understanding of the department and the field in general, before he can take an active measure should the case happen again.

For the second case, it is recommendable that he talks to Mary in order to clear any suspicion. He should approach her and get the information concerning this reward in an amicable way. This will make them continue working as a team as the trust would be strengthened.

Product (Harmful Ecological Impact)-Case Study

Ethical Issues

Robert is faced with an environmental issue that requires balance between the sustainability of the business and environmental concern (76). The two issues in this case are either to disregard environmental concern and produce aerosol stain remover, which is marketable, or continue with the production of the liquid stain remover and face the eminent danger of elimination from the market.

Possible Alternatives

The two issues may be given two approaches. If Robert considers profits other than environmental concerns, then he may choose either of the two options. He may choose to produce aerosol dispenser as a way to get quick finance for his business. As a product manager, he should aim at building a customer base that is large enough to sustain the company. By giving marketing an outward-in approach, he should give the customer requirements a priority and provide them with what they value most.

Alternatively, she can produce both types of dispensers (pump and aerosol) in a bid to balance between the need for profits and the desire to maintain the environment. He can produce aerosols that are enough to cover for the costs of production, and produce the pumps to act as the margins.

If he considers environmental concern, he can then increase its promotional campaigns among the customers of the dangers of aerosols. The company should continue producing environmental friendly products but maintain promotion. Alternatively, he can petition the environmental agencies to put regulations on the industry. All the players should be limited to packaging their products in a manner sensitive to environmental concerns.

Ethics for the Alternatives

The decision to produce aerosols will have the best result in terms of profits. It will enable the company attract the customers they had lost because of the unattractive product.

This will enable it sustain itself in the competitive. However, this approach may not be ethical as it disregards the environmental concerns. Producing a certain percentage of aerosol dispensers and the other percentage as pump dispenser appears ethical as it shows that inasmuch as the company is determined to get profits, it is sensitive to environmental concerns (Bonheoffer 34).

If it considers environmental concern, the option of continuing to produce environmental friendly products is ethical as it give emphasis to the need for a clean environment at all cost. The alternative of seeking regulatory restrictions put in place by the government will be an indication that he is ready to defend the environment through all means.

The Best Action Plan

If Robert considers the need to generate profits, then he should consider producing both types of dispensers as a measure to reduce pollution. It is the best decision as it is sensitive to both the needs of the business and the environment. If he considers giving environment more concern, then it should consider government intervention on environmental preservations. This is to ensure that market competition is leveled, with everyone doing his/her part to conserve the environment.

Taking Credit for Work: Might Makes Right- Case Study

Ethical Issues

Janice is a very successful executive who is lucky to have gotten a good job with a good salary. However, his assistant is very frustrated as the salary he gets is hardly enough to cater for his expenses. However, through his hard work, John develops a program that is relevant to the organization. Janice demands to present this program as her own, reward John with a promotion and pay rise. If John rejects the offer then he will be fired. He has to choose between his job and his integrity.

Possible Alternatives

If John decides to maintain his job, he will have to allow his boss to use his work and present it as his. He will get what he had been yawning for so much-promotion and pay rise. Alternatively, he may refuse the usage his work by his boss and raise the concern with the senior authorities. If he decides to quit, he may decide to consider suing his former boss for harassment and demand for compensation. Alternatively, he may decide to quit this job quietly decide on a new path.

Ethics for the Alternatives

By allowing his work to be used by his boss, John will be employing consequential theory, as he will be expecting to be rewarded by job. It is worthy decision as John will be in a position get what he had been looking for in life. By deciding to stay in the firm but refuse to allow usage of the program, john will be fighting for his integrity.

Conclusion

Ethics is a very broad issue that one needs to give attention to so that there is harmony in various workplaces. It is a responsibility of everyone to ensure that ethics is maintained, by doing all that pertain to morals. Through this, an organization may be able to develop a comprehensively and integrated work force that is dynamic and ready to help one another. This will make the organization have a peaceful working environment, devoid of direct confrontation.