Business ethics: Ethically dubious employee conduct

Résumé du document

This document is a Q&A related to the case analysis "Ethically dubious employee conduct". All questions are fully answered in a very complete and developped manner.

Extraits

[...] Rather, it is the reasons that drive the employee to use the company car that may be suitable for a morally acceptable practice or not It was company business trip: staying in the most expensive hotel Taking taxis When You Could Walk, Including wine have food on your expense tab, Taking your spouse along at company expense This sentence is sexist and considers that the man works and not the woman. Moreover, this practice is absolutely not morally acceptable. Indeed, it is to take advantage of the company to use the best services and the best hotels for a trip. It's abusive Using your office online, trade stocks, view pornography, or e-mail friends on company time. E-mailing a friend during business hours or looking at our banking positions appear to be morally acceptable practices. [...]

[...] What should Brenda do when she finds a fellow employee engaging in what she considers ethically dubious conduct? Some item of the list are matter of degree Such As Taking office supplies home for your personal use, using the phone for personal or making personal copies and making personal trip in a company car. Some are trivial and wrong at the same time as charging the postage or calling in sick. It is true that, from a purely deontological point of view: some arguments do not seem absolutely permissible in business. [...]

[...] Indeed, if we abuse these goods and use them disproportionately: it is obvious that it becomes abuse and can be considered morally unacceptable 2. Using the phone for personal, long-distance phone calls. In the same way as the previous point, the abuse of telephone lines accounts for abusive personal use and is therefore considered morally unacceptable. However, if it is measured and responds to emergencies: for example, to warn your family of a delay, then it is morally acceptable. The use should not be repeated Making personal copies on the office machines This practice is tolerated and morally acceptable. [...]

[...] Indeed, moral rules are to be taken into account. Employees must respect the law but also rules of living together. This more is driven by these rules of living together. I would not say that the person is a prig but simply that I would find it respectful. It is honourable and admirable, see an example. 7/She should engage an open conversation about the consequences of such an act without going further. It's not up to Brenda to make the law within the company. [...]

[...] Someone might argue that some of the things listed as ethically dubious are really employee entitlements. Assess this contention. How would you respond to the argument that if the company doesn't do anything to stop the conduct on Brenda's list, then it has only itself to blame? What about the argument that none of the things on the list is wrong unless the company has an explicit rule against it? What obligations do employees have to their employers? Do companies have moral rights that employees can violate? [...]