Ethical Dilemma in the Workplace: Case Study of Linaz

This report discusses the ethical dilemma faced by Linaz in the workplace and how she can navigate through it. It explores the application of the ACS code of ethics and relevant Australian legislation in addressing the issue. Recommendations for organizations to promote diversity and cultural sensitivity are also provided.

Running Head: ASSIGNMENT 1 1
IT WRITE UP
STUDENT’S NAME
COURSE
UNIVERSITY
DATE

ASSIGNMENT 1 2
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................2
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................3
Summarized case study 5..........................................................................................................................4
Using Chris MacDonald framework in decision making........................................................................5
ACS code of ethics applicable in the case of Linaz................................................................................11
Relevant Clauses from the ACS code of professional conduct.............................................................12
Relevant Australian Legislation that applies to the case study............................................................13
Recommendation.....................................................................................................................................14
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................15
References................................................................................................................................................16

ASSIGNMENT 1 3
Introduction
This report is going to outline how Linaz shall deal with her ethical dilemma despite of securing
the employment of her choice. ACS code of professional ethics and conduct shall be very crucial
in the process of her decision making (Peterson, 2013). Various clauses within the professional
code of ethics and conduct shall also be applicable in her decision making process. The report
shall apply Chris MacDonald frame work to solve the ethical dilemma in question.

ASSIGNMENT 1 4
Summarized case study 5
Linaz performed well in her job interview which impressed the manager of Compusoft who
ended up offering her the job. The manager located her in the same office with a male colleague
by the name Mark which was against her culture to be in isolation with a man who was not her
relative. She was not happy and her husband threatened her to quit the job which made her to
approach the manager for the solution.

ASSIGNMENT 1 5
Using Chris MacDonald framework in decision making.
According to Carter, Mayes, Eagle & Dahl (2017) Chris MacDonald approach shall be very
effective to help Linaz to make an effective decision in her ethical dilemma as outlined below
A. Recognizing the Moral Dimension
Linaz should focus on the morality aspect of her action. In her culture it’s immoral to be
completely isolated with a man who is not related to you hence she should request for a reshuffle
if possible she share the office with a woman or be alone in the office since the organization
should provide all the employees with a conducive environment for effective performance. If the
manager cannot address her concern then she should quit and apply the job elsewhere.
B. Who Are the Interested Parties?
The parties involved are: Linaz and her husband who needs her cultural issue
addressed.
What are their Relationships?
Linaz should ensure that her relationship with her husband is not ruined by her job hence should
make her husband happy by ensuring that her issue is addressed and she does not violate her
cultural regulations.
C What Values or Principles are involved?
Linaz should reflect on her cultural values and ensure that she doesn’t violate them under all the
circumstances. It is a violation of her cultural beliefs for her to share an isolated place with a man
who is not her relative.

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Is there a question of trust?
Linaz’s husband trusts her and he knows that she can’t violate the cultural beliefs which gives
her the strength to address her issue to the management.
Is personal autonomy a consideration?
Linaz needs determination in her pursuance of her cultural right for her issue to be
addressed by the management.
Is there a question of fairness?
The organization is fair by assigning her an office for convenience but it should further try
to address her concern to enhance her comfortability within the organization.
Is anyone to be harmed or helped?
Definitely not because she is pursuing her rights which only requires relocation if that is what it
takes for her to be comfortable and perform effectively within the organization.
D. Sketch out options -- not just actions, but courses of action.
Linaz has various alternatives for her situation. She can request for relocation to an
office with women. She can also quit the job completely and apply in another
organization. This is important because her husband shall be happy and she shall
also be satisfied as an employee.

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E. Weigh the Benefits and the Burdens
The benefits
Her decision to seek for an urgent solution to her problem shall enhance a better relationship
with her husband. It shall also enhance her job satisfaction which shall enhance efficient
productivity in her role.
The burdens
Ignoring and proceeding with work in the same office with a male who is not her relative
would be a violation of her cultural beliefs which may result to guilty, it may also result to
poor relationship with her husband. She shall also be stressed which may hinder her
efficient production within the organization.

ASSIGNMENT 1 8
F. Look for Analogous Cases
Can you think of other similar decisions?
Linaz was previously employed by an organization that restricted the employees from
practicing their religious rights since she is a Muslim and was not given the freedom to
visit the mosque as the manager regarded it as a waste of time.
What course of action was taken?
She persisted and she was fired by the management over lack of commitment within the
organization.
Was it a good decision?
Yes, because everybody has a right for worship within the organization.
How is the present case like that one?
There is a violation of her cultural beliefs just like the previous one that involved the
violation of her spiritual beliefs.
How is it different?
The present situation involves something that would affect her on daily basis, sharing of an
isolated office with unrelated man while the previous issue affected her once per week.

ASSIGNMENT 1 9
G. Discuss with Relevant Others
Linaz should share her situation with the manager who shall give her the way forward in relation
to the issue. Gathering a variety of opinions would enhance her final decision in relation to the
matter at hand.
H. Establishing whether her decision is line with the organizational code of
ethics and values.
Linaz should establish whether the organization appreciates diversity which is a very significant
aspect in her situation. This would enable her to know the effective measures to take to solve her
problem.

ASSIGNMENT 1 10
I. She should ascertain her comfortability with the decision
Sometimes your 'gut reaction' will tell you if you've missed something. Questions to be asked in
this regard might include:
1) If I carry out this decision, would I be comfortable telling my family about it? My
clergyman? My mentors?
Linaz should be ready to quit the job if her concern cannot be effectively addressed
because her husband threatened her to stop working unless something is done in relation
to the issue. She would be very comfortable to inform all the parties since she is an
epitome of good character. She should not share the isolated office with unrelated male
under all the circumstances as far as her culture is concerned.
2) Would I want children to take my behaviour as an example?
Of coz yes because being firm in what you believe in is one of the foundations of success in
life.
3) Is this decision one which a wise, informed, virtuous person would make?
Refusing to share an office with an unrelated male is a wise decision since it shall enable the
organization to acknowledge the aspect of diversity that exists among the employees in the
organization.
4) Can I live with this decision?
Yes because of the pride in my culture and family.

ASSIGNMENT 1 11
ACS code of ethics applicable in the case of Linaz.
Honesty
‘You will be honest in your representation of skills, knowledge, services and products’.
Linaz should be honest with the organization in relation to her cultural aspect to find
the solution for her ethical dilemma.
The primacy of the public interest
‘You will place the interests of the public above those of personal, business or sectional
interests’. The manager should not only focus on the performance of the organization
but should ensure that the employees are comfortable within the organization which
would see Linaz finding a perfect solution for her problem.
Competence
‘You will work competently and diligently for your sake holders’. Adhering to the
cultural aspects by an employee is evidence of the competent nature of the employee
(Burmeister, 2017). Linaz is a competent employee who does not want to violate her
cultural beliefs as much as she wants to give her best for the organization.

ASSIGNMENT 1 12
Relevant Clauses from the ACS code of professional conduct
1.2.1(a)-‘Identify those potentially impacted by your work and explicitly consider their
interests’ (Kaposy, Brunger, Maddalena & Singleton,2016). As per MacDonald’s approach,
Linaz should think about the impact of her job to her family especially on her relationship with
her husband.
1.2.1(b)-‘Protect and promote the health and safety of those affected by your work’. From
Macdonald’s frame work, Linaz should ensure that she does not stress her husband with her job
as far as their relationship is concerned.
1.2.1. (c)-‘advise your stakeholders as soon as possible of any conflicts of interest or
conscientious objections that you have’. Linaz should advise the management on the importance
of adhering to the cultural aspects of the employees so that her issue is addressed appropriately.
1.2.2(d)-‘attempt to increase the feelings of personal satisfaction, competence and control of
those affected by your work’. Linaz should ensure that she attains satisfaction at the work place
by addressing her concern to the manager for effective solution. This shall also be crucial in her
relationship with her husband.
1.2.6(c)-‘confront attempts to limit diversity in the work place, and ensure that opportunities for
employment, advancement, remuneration and other working conditions are based on the actual
skills and performance of employees, free of stereotypes and prejudices’(Warren & Lucas,2016).
Linaz should make the manager aware of her concern which is a violation of her cultural norms.
This would enable the organization to appreciate diversity at the work place if her issue shall be
addressed enhancing attraction of employees and effective performance of the employees within
the organization.

ASSIGNMENT 1 13
Relevant Australian Legislation that applies to the case study.
Public Service Act 1999
This act stipulates that the organization should ensure that the employees are very comfortable as
they render their services within the organization. This act should guide the management in its
decision in relation to the case of Linaz.
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
All the employees should be in good health and safe in the work place for effective performance
(Alexander, 2015). Linaz is stressed with her situation hence the management should solve her
issue to ensure that she is comfortable.

ASSIGNMENT 1 14
Recommendation
Organizations should appreciate the aspect of diversity among the employees by adhering to the
cultural aspect of various groups of individuals within the organization. This enhances effective
performance of the employees within the organization hence the achievement of stipulated goals
and objectives.

ASSIGNMENT 1 15
Conclusion
It is usually advisable for employees to stick to their cultural beliefs despite of their work
environment. This enables the organization to incorporate the diversity aspect in their routine
operations. Chris MacDonald approach enabled Linaz to make the final decision of not sharing
the isolated office with an unrelated male and the management reshuffled her and now she is
very comfortable in her new organization.

ASSIGNMENT 1 16
References
Burmeister, O.K., 2017. Professional ethics in the information age. Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society, 15(4), pp.348-356.
Carter, S. M., Mayes, C., Eagle, L., & Dahl, S. (2017). A code of ethics for social marketing?
Bridging procedural ethics and ethics-in-practice. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector
Marketing, 29(1), 20-38.
Kaposy, C., Brunger, F., Maddalena, V., & Singleton, R. (2016). The use of Ethics Decision‐
Making Frameworks by Canadian Ethics Consultants: A Qualitative
Study. Bioethics, 30(8), 636-642.
Peterson, S. (2013). The Australian Computer Society code of professional conduct and
professional practice. 3rd ed. [Sydney]: Australian Computer Society, p.80.
Warren, M., & Lucas, R. (2016). Ethics and ICT: Why all the fuss? Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society, 14(2), 167-169.