Ethical Issues in Workplace Bullying and Harassment

ACCT19083 Final Assignment
Term 2, 2018
Student ID:..................................... Student name..............................................................
Marker’s overall comments: The markers may include any
final comments here.
Overall Mark (Total) out of 40:
0

Part A Question 1: Describe the ethical issues inherent in bullying and harassment in the workplace. Can
bullying be linked to management style? Use the case study to inform your answer (300–400 words).
Harassment refers to different facets of bullying, including incivility, victimization, social undermining and abusive supervision.
All of these types of harassment result in negative interactions in the workplace related to harm and spiritual pain (Neall & Tuckey,
2014). Although, they are not related to the legally protected issues like sex and race. Harassment could be considered as a collective
construct that accounts for the exposure to cases of victimization (Samnani, 2013).
Bullying in the workplace is considered a repeated unethical behaviour and unfavourable treatment of a staff member by another
at the workplace. This behaviour also includes actions that belittle others through rudeness, threats, violence, sarcasm and humiliation.
Bullying is undertaken by the person who wants to maintain his control and power. It leads to many negative outcomes for the
individual and organizational levels. It represents a major ethical problem in modern organizations. The superiors are used to harm
their subordinates which are unfairly treated. Organizations promote for their code of ethics as a corrective action to the bullying
behaviour. They aim to maintain good relationships between the staff members and lower the pressure and stress (Boddy, 2011).
The case of Origin Energy unethical behaviour of ignoring the coal seam gas wells provides an obvious example of the unethical
and illegal behaviour by the company management. The company caused several unethical and illegal incidents in both Australia and
New Zealand. The coal seam gas wells have been leaking for more than a decade without any official or legal action against it from the
organizational management, the government or the NGO's. The first whistleblowing was initiated by Sally McDow, the former senior
manager of compliance at Origin. She launched the incident that unveiled the illegal cases, including the bullying culture within the
organization. The staff was physically intimidated and abused when any of them tried to report a serious illegal case or activity. Many
of them left the organization for this reason when they were punished after raising the illegal cases to the managers (Slezak, 2017).
References:
Boddy, C. (2011). Corporate psychopaths, bullying and unfair supervision in the workplace. Journal of Business Ethics, 100, 367–379.
Neall, A., & Tuckey, M. (2014). A methodological review of research on the antecedents and consequences of workplace harassment.
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 87, 225–257.
Samnani, A. (2013). The early stages of workplace bullying and how It becomes prolonged: The role of culture in predicting target
responses. Journal of Business Ethics, 113, 119–132.
Slezak, M. (2017, Jan. 26). Origin Energy ignores coal seam gas well leaks, whistleblower says. Retrieved from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/27/origin-energy-ignores-coal-seam-gas-well-leaks-whistleblower-says
Mark (5):

Marker’s Comments: The marker will provide feedback here. 0
Exceeds Expectations
(High Distinction) 85-100%
Exceeds Expectations
(Distinction) 75 - 84%
Meets Expectations
(Credit) 65 – 74%
Meets Expectations
(Pass) 50 – 64%
Below Expectations
(Fail) below 50%
Demonstrates a balanced and very
high level of detailed knowledge of
core concepts by providing a very
high level of analysis. Utilises
current, appropriate and credible
sources.
Demonstrates a balanced and high
level of knowledge of core
concepts by providing a high level
of analysis. Utilises mostly current,
appropriate and credible sources.
Demonstrates a good level of
knowledge of some of the core
concepts by providing some level
of analysis. Utilises some current,
appropriate and credible sources.
Demonstrates limited knowledge of
core concepts by providing a
limited level of analysis. Utilises
few current, appropriate and
credible sources.
Demonstrates little, if any,
knowledge of the core concepts
with extremely limited, if any,
analysis. Utilises little, if any,
current, appropriate and credible
sources.
Quality of writing at a very high
standard. Paragraphs are
coherently connected to each
other. Correct grammar, spelling
and punctuation.
Quality of writing is of a high
standard. Paragraphs are mostly
well structured. Few grammar,
spelling and punctuation mistakes.
Quality of writing is of a good
standard. Few grammar, spelling
and punctuation mistakes.
Some problems with sentence
structure and presentation
Frequent grammar, punctuation
and spelling mistakes. Use of
inappropriate language.
Quality of writing is at a very poor
standard so barely
understandable. Many spelling
mistakes. Little or no evidence of
proof reading.
The assessment presents a
detailed and focused summary of
the ideas presented; drawing clear
and well thought-out conclusions.
The assessment presents a fairly
detailed and focused summary of
the ideas presented; drawing fairly
clear and well thought-out
conclusions.
The assessment presents a
somewhat detailed and focused
summary of the ideas presented;
providing some evidence of
conclusions.
The assessment provides limited
detail with no clear summary of the
ideas presented; drawing limited
conclusions.
The assessment fails to provide
any clear evidence of the ideas
presented; drawing no clear
conclusions.