MGT301A: Ethics and Sustainability in the Workplace Report

This report examines ethical issues faced by Woolworths, a leading superstore chain. The analysis focuses on two key ethical dilemmas: decision-making processes and the use of social media in the workplace. The report identifies relevant ethical frameworks, including fairness and justice, virtue ethics, and rights ethics, to address these issues. It explores how these frameworks can guide ethical decision-making and promote a responsible work environment. Furthermore, the report delves into the impact of ethical management on workplace behavior, emphasizing the importance of corporate governance and ethical codes of conduct. The reflection section provides a personal perspective on applying these ethical principles, highlighting the significance of integrity, respect, and responsible leadership in fostering a positive organizational culture. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and recommendations for improving ethical standards within the organization, supported by a comprehensive list of references.

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Ethics

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Contents
Part 1...........................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................2
Identification of issue 1...........................................................................................................................2
Ethical framework...................................................................................................................................2
Identification of issue 2...........................................................................................................................3
Ethical framework...................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................4
Part 2...........................................................................................................................................................5
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................5
Summary of issue and framework...........................................................................................................5
Reflection................................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................7
Reference....................................................................................................................................................8

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Part 1
Introduction
In business, ethical issues are faced by the organization which includes the economic,
commercial, social or environment which are required to be managed. Ethics in business is a
major concern which includes considering the business practices. This report includes the
analysis of ethical issues which is faced by Woolworths in Australia. The ethical framework will
be addressed for the issues which are faced by the organization. Woolworths is a leading
superstore chain that provides products and services across the world.
Identification of issue 1
The ethical issue which is faced by the Woolworths in Australia is the issue of decision making.
The sourcing policies are adopted by Woolworths for earning the trust of customers and they are
committed to holding human rights. The ethical sourcing policy helps in encompassing the anti-
corruption, labor rights, fair and safe working conditions, and environmental compliances are
required. In order to make the decision, it is necessary to consider the opinion of employees for
making the decisions. The issue is required to be considered as it affects the reputation and
performance of the organization (Lehnert, et al., 2016). An ethical dilemma is faced by the
organization for managing the employees and making the employees work hard.
Ethical framework
The ethical framework is required to be considered for making effective decisions. In order to
manage the issue, the organization is required to adopt the Fairness and justice. In order to make
effective decisions, an ethical dilemma is faced by the organization in the process of decision
making which includes the two possible moral imperatives. Ethics is important to maintaining a
company's reputation, as it includes ethical principles that companies should follow to avoid
misconduct and fraud (Schaltegger and Burritt, 2018). Reputation is the company's most valuable
asset. To eliminate unethical behavior, the application of different rules and regulations will
greatly help. In a highly competitive market environment, organizations need to gain substantial

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profits in a short period of time with the help of unethical practices, which can harm the long-
term success of the organization (Schwartz, 2017).
Identification of issue 2
The issue of the ethical issue which is faced by management in Woolworths is the issue of usage
of social media at the workplace. The use of social media within the company needs to be
effectively monitored and controlled by management in order to limit employees' posts on the
company's social media accounts. Management must observe employee behavior about the
company and several of its products and services posted on the company's own social media
pages (Schwartz, 2016).
Another ethical issue within the organization is the use of computers and Internet services to
monitor employee activity. Significant developments have been made in digital communication
technology, making it possible for employees to monitor their activities based on the company's
daily activities on various electronic devices provided by the company (Zeni, et al., 2016).
Technology provides ample resources and utilities for every business organization and its
employees. Understanding technology-related privacy issues is important. The ability of
employees to monitor technology-related securities should be improved (Hess, et al., 2017).
Ethical framework
Virtue ethics can be adopted for addressing the issue which includes showing the decision. The
correct ethical theory should be adopted, and the rights and rules granted by society should be
taken into account to help people work in the right direction. This theory asserts the right to laws
that must be followed in an organization. The Code of Conduct is developed as an internal
document that clarifies the company's intentions in dealing with employees; the Business
Conduct Charter or Code of Business deals with relationships with external stakeholders
(Woiceshyn, 2017). They were developed in consultation with stakeholders to ensure a fair and
just relationship. In the strategy of treating employees unfairly, managers are required to follow
an ethical approach to promote employee safety and security. It requires compliance with the
terms and policies of companies that provide living wages as an additional benefit. The analysis
shows that underperforming employees do not benefit. The analysis shows that moral dilemmas

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affect social, personal and professional values. Value is affected because of ethical issues in the
business (Hannah, et al., 2011).
Conclusion
To conclude, it is analyzed that Woolworths is facing the ethical issue of decision making and
using social media at the workplace. For addressing the issues, the ethical framework can be
considered for managing the issues are unethical practices. The framework practices help in
reducing the issue and problems. It is necessary for the managers to adopt the strategies as well
as consult the code of ethics for effective guidance.

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Part 2
Introduction
Ethical management is essential for fulfilling the goals and legal responsibilities and also
requires meeting the ethical expectation with the help of social norms for conducting business. It
includes code, compliance, and consensus. Ethical management is necessary for addressing the
issue of making future workplace behaviour. The change in behaviour is required for making the
future which is learned by the two ethical frameworks. Professional ethics will be discussed
which affects the behaviour at the workplace. Senior management and corporate governance
structures influence the behaviour of people and employees.
Summary of issue and framework
In Part A, the issues and frameworks are discussed which are faced by Woolworths. The issues
which are faced by the organization include the issue of decision making and employees use
social media at the workplace. The ethical decision-making model is required to be used for
solving the ethical dilemma at the organization. It is necessary to identify ethical problems by
giving rights and opportunities. The virtue and rights ethics framework is required to be adopted
by the management for addressing the issue. Right ethics includes adopting the rights and rules
which helps the employees to work in the right direction. Virtue ethics is required to be adopted
as it includes taking the suggestion from others for making effective decisions.
By using ethical codes of conduct in the organization, the organization can manage the work and
is able to create an ethical culture in the organization as the ethics code of conduct includes the
general principles and standard which helps in conducting and influencing the behavior.
According to me, responsibility is an ethical concept which includes the individuals and groups
are required to follow the obligations and duties for the ethical behaviour at the workplace
(Floridi, et al., 2018).

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Reflection
According to me, ethical frameworks are required to be adopted by the organization for
managing workplace behavior. I had learned that virtue ethics and the right ethics helps in
providing the benefits for growth and development. In the virtue approach, the various ideas are
required to be adopted for providing full development. According to me, I required to adopt the
attitudes and traits which help in enabling and analyzing the ways for developing the potential.
For implementing the rights approach, the individuals are required to be treated and paid
according to their hard work. The ethics officer helps in creating a culture that is more likely to
encourage ethical behavior. I had realized that it is necessary to treat an unhealthy organizational
culture. I had analysed that professionals are required to adopt the code of conduct. The culture
of the organization is required to be maintained for motivating the employees with the help of
leadership. Senior management of the organization is required to provide the safety of employees
and customers and securing the private information by using the technology (Abel, et al., 2016).
The role of decision-makers includes the responsibilities which require to perform the work.
Professionals are required to adopt the principles for meeting the aspire which includes
beneficence and non-maleficence and helping others without harming others at the workplace.
Integrity is required to be adopted by a professional in order to build trust in employees by being
truthful and honest with them. At the workplace, respect for people's rights and dignity is
required and I believe that to motivate people to respect the worth and dignity of others is
necessary and it helps in making the ability to taking the decisions. The management requires
focusing on building skills and solving problems by paying attention to developing the ethical
skills and techniques of solving problems. Professionals at the workplace are required to provide
corrective feedback to employees.
I had learned that ethical management includes the principles which are required to be
considered for respecting the employees in difficult times and the employees are required to be
treated respectfully. The effective culture is required to be provided for making the employees
comfortable. It is the responsibility to reduce the risks by honesty assessing the needs and
resources and it is necessary to build a culture of integrity (Carbalho, et al., 2018).
In order to improve the ethical standards of the enterprise, managers must consider factors such
as legislation, government regulations and rules, ethics codes, social pressure, and adopt the

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ethical atmosphere of the enterprise. Managers must develop policies that benefit employees and
motivate them to work effectively and efficiently for the organization (Brown, et al., 2010).
Ethics in management decisions helps protect a company's reputation in the market. It helps
make business activities fair and reasonable to customers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, business ethics contains principles, values , and beliefs that help define right and
wrong. These views need to be considered in moral decisions, including rationalists and
intuitionists. Solving ethical issues in the workplace requires ethical theories and principles.
Employees and managers face ethical dilemmas in the workplace in all situations. Solving ethical
dilemmas requires considering effective decisions. It is analyzed that the structure of corporate
governance helps in influencing the behavior in a manner as the effective structure helps the
employees to work in an effective manner. I had faced the ethical issue and ethical management
helps in making an effective workplace in the future. It is necessary to improve ethics at the
workplace for creating the work culture for employees. It is analyzed the ethical framework is
essential for the organization as it helps in providing the commitments, ethical values, adoption
of good practices and principles which helps in providing support to the decision making
process.

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Reference
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