University of Wollongong MGT301A Ethics Reflection Paper

This report, submitted as part of the MGT301A Ethics and Sustainability course at the University of Wollongong, reflects on an ethical dilemma encountered in a workplace setting. The student describes a situation involving a toxic work culture characterized by disrespect and bullying, necessitating ethical decision-making. The report outlines the ethical decision-making process, including identifying the issue, considering consequences, and applying ethical principles like justice. Furthermore, it explores the use of ethical frameworks such as utilitarianism and deontological ethics to address the issue and promote a positive work environment. The student emphasizes the importance of ethical principles and frameworks in guiding decisions and ensuring the welfare of employees. References to relevant academic literature support the analysis.

RUNNING HEAD: ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY 0
2020
Ethics and Sustainability
Student’s details-

ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY 1
Description of Workplace Event
Ethical decision making is based on the evaluation of certain factors and undertaking of
the best decision which is consistently based on the ethical principles (Heyler, Armenakis,
Walker, & Collier, 2016). Moreover, when I was working into the organization as a manager, I
had faced an ethical dilemma of toxic work culture in which I need to make an ethical decision
for the welfare of all the employees. At that time, due to the toxic environmental factors at the
workplace wherein there was disrespecting and bullying of the employees. These factors needed
an ethical decision making as this ethical issue has affected the organization and lead to
employee turnover as they were dissatisfied with the toxic culture within the workplace.
Ethical Decision Making
For the solving of the ethical issue of toxic culture, I had made the ethical decision
making which created the positive mentality and often helped my organization to undertake the
positive culture by acting in the best interest of all employees. This requires the ethical decision
making which requires the evaluation of several alternatives and making the actions that abide
with the ethical principles. In the light of solving this ethical issue, I had made the considered the
several alternatives. Moreover, after the identification of the ethical issue, it is important to
identify the consequences of actions and the parties which are affected by the ethical issue
(Lehnert, Park, & Singh, 2015). Similarly, I have considered the consequences of toxic work
culture and also determined that the employees are highly affected by this unethical issue.
Precisely, I as a manager of the organization considered the ethical principles which can
affect the decision-making process. Moreover, ethical principles are the obligations and rights
which are involved in the solving of the ethical issue and affect the extent of decision made. I
have used the ethical principle of justice in which I made sure that the policies are in place while
making the decision. Also, I have ensured that I am protecting the rights of the employees and
acting the actions for the maximum welfare for all. Precisely, the ethical principles are the
guidelines on the basis of which decisions are made and can affect the values and beliefs of the
individuals (Hammersley, 2015). Moreover, my ethical decision was to make the workplace
environment conducive and free from the biases.

ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY 2
Ethical Frameworks
Ethical framework is regarded as set of values and principles which are the basis of the
ethical practice is made (McHanwell, et al., 2020). In my case, I have used one ethical
framework of utilitarianism in which I have identified the welfare of all the employees and made
the decision of imposing strict penalties in the light of the wrongdoings. Further, I have utilized
another ethical framework of deontological ethics in which I have determined that it is my duty
to remove the toxicity from the workplace environment and also making organization more
productive by protecting the interest of the employees. Also, I will make these approach for
striving with positive workplace environment.

ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY 3
References
Hammersley, M. (2015). On ethical principles for social research. International Journal of
Social Research Methodology, 18(4), 433-449.
Heyler, S., Armenakis, A., Walker, A., & Collier, D. (2016). A qualitative study investigating the
ethical decision making process: A proposed model. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(5),
788-801.
Lehnert, K., Park, Y., & Singh, N. (2015). Research note and review of the empirical ethical
decision-making literature: Boundary conditions and extensions. Journal of Business
Ethics, 129(1), 195-219.
McHanwell, S., Brenner, E., Chirculescu, A., Drukker, J., van Mameren, H., Mazzotti, G., &
Laforêt, E. (2020). The legal and ethical framework governing Body Donation in Europe-
A review of current practice and recommendations for good practice. European Journal
of Anatomy, 12(1), 1-24.