Ethical Dilemmas Faced in Organizations

Ethical Dilemmas Faced in Organizations

Ethics have always been present in organizations. They influence and “guide judgments about good and bad, right and wrong, not just effectiveness or efficiency” (Shockley-Zalabak, 2012, p. 112). With that in mind, it is imperative that managers, leaders, followers, and subordinates follow the established ethics in an organization. In this paper I will review two dilemmas, attempt to determine what I would do, and what I should do according to my readings in Fundamentals of organizational communication: Knowledge, sensitivity, skills, values (8th ed.).

Personnel Liaison Scenario

In this dilemma I am a personnel liaison for a manufacturing company. An employee approaches me with information about drug use on the production line. She gave me this information in confidence and does not want me to disclose her name for fear that other personnel liaisons are involved. Faced with this dilemma, what should I do?

I have many avenues I can utilize to resolve this issue ethically. First I determined the employee did not provide any proof of the allegation, so confronting the individuals would be inappropriate. Next could also investigate whether the employee has any prior issues with the employees she is making the complaint about. If that was not the case, I would hold a meeting and stress the importance of safety and how drugs can impair an individual’s thinking and this can adversely affect production and also endanger other individuals working. I would also drug test all the workers to ensure they are following the regulations and policy set for members of the organization. I believe by taking these actions I can remove any question or doubt about what the policies are and what is expected of members in the organization. If the results from the drug test proved that the individuals accused tested positive for drugs, they would be fired. Another topic to examine is whether the employee’s actions were justified.

The employee’s decision to come to me with the problem was the best decision. She understood that “Illegal behavior in a climate of control contributes to the needs for whistle- blowing, the exposure of illegal behavior to organizational outsiders” (Shockley-Zalabak, 2012, p. 118). In this situation, her blowing the whistle on her co-workers may have saved the company from legal liabilities that may have arisen from illegal drug use in the company. She also assumed personal responsibility and took accountable action, which are referred to as ethical responsibilities (Shockley-Zalabak, 2012). Employees, such as the one from the scenario, should be valued in organizations and not shunned.

Copy Writer Scenario

In this scenario I am a lead copy writer in an advertising agency. I handling a major chemical products account and the company’s

...