Ethical Analysis: Walmart's Leave Policy and Kant's Categorical Law

This essay analyzes the ethical dilemma faced by Walmart regarding changes to its leave policy and payment structures. The dilemma centers on balancing the need for productivity with the desire to support employees through benefits like bonuses, paid leave, and extended leave, especially for pregnant workers. The analysis applies Kant's categorical imperative, highlighting how Walmart's actions align with moral philosophies by aiming to provide moral support to its employees, particularly addressing past criticisms of discrimination against pregnant female workers. Additionally, the essay explores virtue ethics, emphasizing Walmart's consideration of long-term good and positive values in shaping its policies. The conclusion recommends that Walmart continue to support employee needs, gather regular feedback, and ensure salary parity between male and female employees.

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Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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The ethical dilemma that has been reflected in this article is about changing the leave
policy. The ethical dilemma was between whether or not to bring changes in their leave policies
and also payment structures (Meyersohn, 2019). The leading supermarket chain Walmart has
been facing an ethical dilemma regarding the allowance of extra monetary benefit like a bonus,
paid leaves, extended leaves to their workers. However, this has not been a very easy decision
because giving extra leaves and bonus to their workers can often hamper their production.
However, on the other hand, they have to develop a proper connection with their employees so
that they can win over the trust of their employees. There have also been criticisms that Walmart
has often made their policies bit tough for the workers who are pregnant. However, Walmart has
tried their best to balance this dilemma in a proper way (MacDougall et al., 2015). They made
sure that they are being able to reward the workers who arrive every day and at the same time
make sure that they are also protecting the ones who had no choice but to skip work for some
days or the other.
The theory of Kant's categorical imperative can be used in order to understand this
case of ethical dilemma and how the company is actually dealing with it (Baron, 2018). The
theory of Kant is mainly divided I to broad headings. This is mainly because of the fact that
Hypothetical imperatives
Often the individuals work in order to teach to the end that they have in their mind. For
instance, if someone is feeling hungry they eat as eating and satisfying hunger is one of the ends
that they have in mind
Categorical imperatives

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This, on the other hand, makes sure that the actions are being based on some moral
philosophies mainly because of the fact that moral goodness is one of the most important things.
Same has been seen in case of the company. This is because Wal-Mart has not taken this
decision of increasing the pat or the bonus of the workers in order to war a very good reputation.
However, they have taken this decision in order to provide moral support to their female
workers, particularly the pregnant female workers. This is mainly because of the fact that earlier
WalMart had faced many criticisms as they made discriminations between their male and female
employees. There was a severe charge against them that they discriminated between their
employees that were pregnant. This is really a very bad offense. As a result of this, the company
realized that they have to act as per the moral philosophies. They need to make sure that they are
taking some actions that are universally correct and can initiate some universal welfare. They
have decided that they will be making new policies that will allow their workers to swap or
switch shifts with their colleagues. Apart from this, they are also trying to reward their
employees who have put forward all the hard work and made sure that they are providing
hundred percent attendances to the people who have turned up at the office every single day.
The other method that had been used is the virtue ethics. This theory or method mainly
talks about the methods that must be used by all the individuals so that they can do good in the
present and also carry on doing the same later in life. This is always very helpful for the
individuals not only in current but also in the future scenario (Turk & Vignjević, 2016). The
company has also been guided by the virtue of ethics while bringing about changes in their
policies. They realized that these changes will help them to provide proper support to their
female employees and also the rest of the employees for rewarding the effort and punctuality that

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they have shown. They have been guided by good values or good and positive virtues like
goodness and kindness.
Thus, it can be concluded that Wal-Mart must carry on supporting all the needs and
requirements of their employees. They must give all the flexibilities that are to be given for
supporting the employees who find it tough to come to the office every day. For an instance the
female employees who might need to go on some maternal al leaves must be allowed with some
options like work from home, swapping of shifts and other such benefits.
 It is recommended that the company takes due to feedback from all their employees on a
regular basis so that there is proper clarity among them.
 The company must make sure that there is no disparity in the salary of the male and
female employees.

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References
Baron, M. W. (2018). Kantian ethics almost without apology. Cornell University Press.
MacDougall, A. E., Bagdasarov, Z., Johnson, J. F., & Mumford, M. D. (2015). Managing
workplace ethics: An extended conceptualization of ethical sensemaking and the
facilitative role of human resources. In Research in Personnel and Human Resources
Management (pp. 121-189). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Meyersohn, N. (2019). Walmart is changing its sick leave policy and will pay bonuses for good
attendance. CNN Business, 2--7. Available from :
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/01/business/walmart-workers-pay-retail/index.html
Turk, M., & Vignjević, B. (2016). Teachers’ Work Ethic: Croatian Students’ Perspective. Foro
de Educación, 14(20).