Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace

This assignment delves into ethical issues and considerations within organizations. It examines various legal frameworks and policies designed to address ethical dilemmas in the workplace. A specific case study is presented, exploring diverse viewpoints on an ethical challenge faced by an employee. The assignment emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives, finding ethical solutions, and maintaining confidentiality when dealing with sensitive situations.

ETHICAL ISSUES
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Discussing meaning of ethics with suitable examples.........................................................3
1.2 Identifying any ethical dilemma and analysing key issues..................................................3
2.1 Discussing policies and legislation relevant to selected dilemma.......................................5
2.2 Comparing several views on selected ethical dilemma and evaluating different views
along with drawing of conclusion..............................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7
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Introduction
Ethical issues and considerations comprise prime importance in every aspect of work or
delivering and receiving services. People must be enlightened about varied ethics to attain a
detailed understanding about moral values that they possess. Through gaining knowledge
about ethical considerations and issues, one accumulates enough understanding about
behaviour and conduct of human beings.
1.1 Discussing meaning of ethics with suitable examples
Ethics could be defined as a set of moral values and principles which efficiently guides
human behaviour. According to the words of Warr et al. (2016, p.14), the morals are carved
by cultural practices, religious influences and social norms. Ethics reflect rights, wrongs, just
and unjust in the context of human behaviour. They serve as the tool of navigation in order to
direct people about their ways of behaviour, conduct and how they present themselves. In
words of Horowitz (2016, p.100), ethics support in understanding and fulfilling people’s
obligation to society as well as to each other and thus, makes convenient to live a healthy life.
This can be explained by three significant examples. One key example could be elaborating
concept of Corporate Social Responsibility which lays emphasis on loyalty as ethical
behaviour within the organisations so that unethical environmental, social and economic
behaviours are understood, recognised and eradicated.
Another worthwhile example shall include- during working as a team or a group while
executing projects, the utmost requirements are honesty and integrity which extensively
signifies presence of ethical essence among the individuals.
Management of a university or college must be accountable or shall be duly responsible for
the operational activities undergoing at the work place. Maintaining the work environment in
the organisation or the company and even ensuring the security, privacy and confidentiality
of staff members as well as employees comes under due responsibility of managers. Hence,
being accountable in undertaking such responsibilities comes under ethical behaviour.
1.2 Identifying any ethical dilemma and analysing key issues
As per the observations of Resnik et al. (2016, p.29), three principle conditions must be
present in any individual to be considered as a case of ethical dilemma. The conditions
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involve making up of decisions, choosing different course of actions and third one includes
no compromising of ethical principles. In order to determine ethical dilemma, one must
consider concepts of values, morals, ethics, policies and laws to be clear. This can be
illustrated through an instance of ethical dilemma and when the key issues concerning that
specific dilemma are identified (Liddle et al. (2016, p.390).
As per the instance, in an organisation or company, once a junior staff member encountered
some severe work related issues due to her pathetic personal life condition. He had to arrive
late and leave the workplace early and could not been present in many team meetings and
conferences. This happened due to his worry and depression bout his ill mother who was
suffering from chronic lung cancer. Stress factors increased when his colleagues used to
make fun of his miserable conditions at workplace and how he used to get embarrassed in
such situations. He had asked substantial help from the floor manager and he is required to
show his ethical behaviour.
The key issues that have been observed surrounding this ethical dilemma and supporting the
manager’s ethical thinking include integrity, confidentiality and professional behaviour. By
integrity, it is meant that the manager must be fair and act in a straightforward way, through
issue of confidentiality, manager is supposed to owe duty of confidentiality towards the staff
involved in any kind of dilemma. In order to understand professional behaviour, the manager
must maintain his professionalism as well as show a helpful gesture to the staff member for
not letting their confidence lost.
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2.1 Discussing policies and legislation relevant to selected dilemma
The relevant policies on the chosen ethical dilemma may be elaborated as follows:
Principles of ethical conduct:
This had been formed by Executive Order 12674 improvised as Executive Order 12731,
where it explains about holding up of basic principles concerning behaviour and conduct of
the employers. In the opinions of Sparks et al. (2016, p.43), it is significant for the employees
to incorporate this law in order to upgrade the level of their confidence and integrity with
colleagues and employers. Relating to the instance provide above, this legislation is
applicable for the employee to develop a healthy atmosphere at the workplace for convenient
working (www.fda.gov, 2016).
HHS Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct:
This legislation is applicable since the department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has
introduced this policy for supporting proper stay of employees in any organisation. As per the
suggestions of Lawson et al. (2016, p.960), maintenance of his or her privacy, security an
confidentiality is under utmost considerations. According to the policy, each and every
employee possess right to claim his or her duty and liability under any ground of
misbehaviour.
2.2 Comparing several views on selected ethical dilemma and evaluating different views
along with drawing of conclusion
Several views that have been identified relating to the above stated ethical dilemma of a staff
member working under a renowned organisation could be projected. The views include- by
communicating more with the staff member would make him feel comfortable and help in
preventing the loss of his confidence followed by taking strict actions against the employees
making fun of him (Sparks et al. 2016, p.44).
Another view states that resolving of difficulties by supporting him financially could also
help him taking good care of his mother which was essential at that period of time. It could
effectively reduce is stress and depression that has resulted due to lack of the financial
support and his helplessness in caring for her mother.
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The views are distinct yet the conclusions that have been drawn are almost alike. It typically
states that considering every kind of compromise, the employee had to do in his daily life, the
manager must keep extra focus on her problems and issues and prevent his on-going
employment from cutting down. Confidentiality shall be strictly maintained so that no other
employee can mock at his situations.
Conclusion
The assignment assists in developing ideas and information about trends surrounding various
ethical issues and considerations. It entails about several legislations as well as policies that
are formed in order to handle ethical dilemmas. Distinct opinions and views of a selected
dilemma have been presented which has drawn a significant conclusion.
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References
Horowitz, M.C., (2016). AUTONOMOUS LEGAL REASONING?: LEGAL AND
ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE TECHNOLOGIES OF CONFLICT: WHY WORDS MATTER:
THE REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES OF DEFINING AUTONOMOUS WEAPON
SYSTEMS. Temp. Int'l & Comp. LJ, 30(4), pp.85-177.
Lawson, C., Beer, C., Rossi, D., Moore, T. and Fleming, J., (2016). Identification of ‘at
risk’students using learning analytics: the ethical dilemmas of intervention strategies in a
higher education institution. Educational Technology Research and Development, 64(5),
pp.957-968.
Liddle, J., Burdon, M., Ireland, D., Carter, A., Kneupffer, C., Milevskiy, N., McBride, S.,
Chenery, H. and Hall, W., (2016). Balancing self-tracking and surveillance: legal, ethical and
technological issues in using smartphones to monitor communication in people with health
conditions. Journal of Law and Medicine, 24(2), pp.387-397.
Resnik, D.B., Miller, A.K., Kwok, R.K., Engel, L.S. and Sandler, D.P., (2016).
Erratum:“Ethical Issues in Environmental Health Research Related to Public Health
Emergencies: Reflections on the GuLF STUDY”. Environmental health perspectives, 124(2),
p.29.
Sparks, H., Collins, F.L. and Kearns, R., (2016). Reflecting on the risks and ethical dilemmas
of digital research. Geoforum, 77, pp.40-46.
Warr, D., Waycott, J., Guillemin, M. and Cox, S., (2016). Ethical Issues in Visual Research
and the Value of Stories from the Field. In Ethics and Visual Research Methods (pp. 1-16).
Palgrave Macmillan US.
www.fda.gov (2016) Ethics Laws and Regulations Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WorkingatFDA/Ethics/ucm071702.htm [Accessed on 10 Jan]
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