Ethical Dilemma Analysis: Business Ethics, University Assignment

This assignment presents an analysis of two ethical dilemmas in a business context. The first case explores the ethical implications of organ sales and escort services, evaluating them through the lens of utilitarian and deontological ethics. The second case delves into gender-based pay discrimination, examining the moral issue of compensating female employees for past discrepancies in salary. The analysis supports the argument for back pay, aligning with the Equal Pay Act and emphasizing the company's responsibility to ensure fair wages, as well as the potential benefits to be gained from such actions. The author uses ethical frameworks to support their position and provides a clear justification for their stance on the moral issues presented.

Running head: ETHICAL DILEMMA
ETHICAL DILEMMA
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ETHICAL DILEMMA
Case study 1:
The idea that was given by Leslie was unethical because according to the theory of
utilitarian, such decisions should be taken that results in greater good and the ideas that was
given by Leslie was going to benefit only she and her friends. This is so because the business she
was going to start, in that the buyers who are in need of organs have to pay a huge amount of
commission to Leslie because she was the agent who helped in linking the buyers and the sellers.
Moreover the buyers would again have to make payment to the seller on the basis of the local
agents. Therefore Leslie’s ideas would put her in a much advantageous position by exploiting the
buyers who are already suffering a lot. Moreover according to the deontology theory of ethics,
people have certain responsibility towards their duty and therefore the online website that she
decided to launch would not ask the sellers whether they are willing to sell their organs or they
are being forced to do that. On the other hand, the idea pitched by Irina is illegal because
according to the Canadian Laws that have been introduced in the year 2014, it is illegal to
advertise or purchase sexual services and it cannot be considered as a sources of living for
people. Moreover there is no work permit by the Canadian government for escort services.
However escort services are not unethical and different countries have different laws related to
the same.
Case Study 2:
The moral issue identified in case study 2 includes pay gap based on gender
discrimination. A company had been paying its female employees with same skill and position
much lesser than their male counterparts on basis of their gender. However recently it decided to
revise the pay structure of the female employees to being them at par with the male employees in

2ETHICAL DILEMMA
terms of their earnings and also based on their skill and position occupied by them. However,
when Phyllis Warren asked the board to compensate the women for their past losses and for the
past discrimination against them they took argued that it was not their responsibility to rectify
what the previous board members had done.
I am supporting Phyllis Warrens arguments because although the board has decided to
revise their salary structure but they have not been compensated for their past discrimination.
Moreover it was the women’s right to be equally paid as per the Equal Pay Act. The Equal pay
act prohibits any kind of discrimination against the employees based on the race, gender, region,
color and other factors. Therefore all the women of the organization had a fright to be paid at par
with men according to the Equal Pay act based on their qualification and skills. Therefore the
managements is trying to escape the situation by saying that they have already take a step for
their past action of discrimination by revising the salary structure of the female employees.
Therefore I feel that Phyllis and other women employees should be compensated for the past
discrimination that they subjected to. Moreover it was even confirmed by one of the male
colleagues of Phyllis Warren that he would have earned 2000 dollars lesser in a year and 22000
dollars over 11 years if he had been discriminated in the organization like in case of Phyllis
Warren. Phyllis Warren had been working in the organization for about 11 years and therefore
she had lost about 22000 dollars according to her position and skills and qualification because of
discrimination against her. And therefore the company owes her and all other tenured employees
the amount that they had lost because of discrimination.
Therefore Phyllis Warrens request for back pay was both legal and ethical. Moreover
according to the employee payback agreements, employees are eligible for getting paid in return
of their services. Phyllis Warren had been serving the company for about 11 years and therefore

3ETHICAL DILEMMA
she described the compensation. Moreover according to the deontology theory of ethics, people
have a responsibility towards their duty and it is the duty of the employers to ensure fair wages to
their employees. Further according to the Utilitarian theory of ethics such decisions are
considered to be ethical which results in greater good for all. Therefore by making past
compensation, the female employees will feel that the company cares for them, the company will
be able to develop better relationship with the female employees and therefore will be able to
drive even more productivity from them. Therefore the organization as a whole will be
benefitted.