Handling Ethical Dilemmas, Essay Example

Employees, being agents of their employer, are bound by duty to ensure they protect the interests of their employer. However, there are situations when employees find themselves in a compromising situation, when their interests and their employers are in conflict. These situations may arise outside the place of work.

Angela’s Ethical Dilemma

Angela is facing an ethical dilemma that transverses her professional and personal life. Having being a key factor in steering Jaden to the open accounting position at WellCare USA, she is currently held in high regards within her social circle. However, by virtue of her own position in WellCare USA, she has the privilege of gaining access to sensitive information that may compromise Jaden’s position at WellCare USA. She can serve the interests of her social circle by divulging this information, or serve the interests of the company by withholding this information.

Employee’s Responsibilities in Ethical Situation

Employees are bound to certain codes that ensure ethical behavior within the workplace, relative to the interests of the company. Employees’ responsibility towards the company, with regards to ethics, can be defined by the following;

Devotion to the Company

Employees are expected to exercise loyalty to their company as defined within the law. While this has become the general notion, employees are not required by law to be loyal to the company (Brink, 2011). However, it is generally accepted as a best practice virtue in employees.

Conflicts of Interest

Employees are only expected to act in a manner that contradicts the interests of the company when the company’s operations and activities lie outside the boundaries described for by the law.

The Organization’s Role in Ensuring Ethical Practices

The organization is responsible for all the operations and activities it conducts. As such, it is legally bound to ensure that all its practices are within the boundaries prescribed by the law. Organizations have a responsibility to ensure ethical practices by;

1. Developing a code of conduct, an important tool in instituting ethical standards within its structure.
2. Defining the organization’s culture with regards to ethics
3. Constantly evaluating the organization’s adherence to the prescribed industry standards of conduct
4. Identifying and addressing deviations from the prescribed standards in a timely manner.(Farazmand & Pinkowski, 2007)

In conclusion, Angela is morally obligated to her friends and company (employee). While she has been placed in an awkward position by the management’s decision, she is morally obligated to ensure the interests of her company are preserved. She has to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of divulging such information to a stranger, from the company’s point of view.

References

Badaracco, J. (1997). Defining moments: When managers must choose between right and right. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Boone, L. E., KurtZ, D. L., & Qualman, E. (2011). Contemporary business: with socialnomics. Hoboken: Wiley Custom Learning Solutions.

Brink, A. (2011). Corporate Governance and Business Ethics. Dordecht: Springer.

Chumney, W. M. (2012). Book Review – Organization Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics Education, 9, 477-479. Retrieved June 13, 2015, from http://www.pdcnet.org/collection/show?id=jbee_2012_0009_0477_0479&file_type=pdf

Farazmand, A., & Pinkowski, J. (2007). Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public Administration. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Johnson, C. E. (2012). Organizational ethics: A practical approach. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.

Murthy, C. S. (2009). Business Ethics And Corporate Governance. New Delhi: Himalaya Pub. House.

Rebenstein, H. (2003, February 12). Review: Defining Moments, by Joseph L. Badaracco. Retrieved June 13, 2015, from Conservative Monitor.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2000, March 30). Occupational Handbook (Bank Tellers). Retrieved April 24, 2013, from University of Moissori-St. Louis.