Workplace Ethical Dilemma Analysis and Resolution: STE610 Report

This report presents an analysis of an ethical dilemma experienced in the workplace, focusing on a situation involving workplace harassment. The author describes the dilemma of witnessing a coworker being harassed and the difficulty in reporting the incident due to fear of repercussions. The report explores different ethical theories, including Utilitarianism, Kantian Imperatives, Virtue Ethics, and the Ethics of Care, ultimately selecting the Ethics of Care as the most appropriate framework for addressing the situation. The author then details the course of action taken, which involved reporting the incident to management and advocating for the implementation of a workplace ethics handbook. The report concludes with recommendations for addressing ethical dilemmas, emphasizing the importance of analyzing situations, considering alternative actions, and ensuring that decisions align with ethical outcomes. The report also highlights the need for proactive measures by authorities to prevent future ethical breaches and promote a safe and ethical work environment.

Title:
Assignment Name:
Student Name:
College Id:
Course name and Number:
Instructors Name:
Date:
1

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
Abstract
The assessment is generally based on ethical dilemmas that are faced in the workplace. It
considers the different theoretical approach of the dilemmas. Using one of those theories the
solution of the dilemmas has been analyzed. There is a broader discussion done based on the
management decision towards solving the problems that were continued in the workplace. It also
includes the participation and handling of the issues in a separate way. The discussion of the
solution has been done based on the analysis that is being made on the situational context of an
ethical dilemma. This is the basic things discussed in the report so far.
2

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Ethical scenario or dilemma............................................................................................................4
Analysis of dilemma through...........................................................................................................5
Course of action...............................................................................................................................5
Principles/ test employed.................................................................................................................6
The course of action took................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................7
Reference List..................................................................................................................................9
3

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
Introduction
Ethical Dilemma generally is considered a problem in the decision making between the
two possible moral ends. In such cases, both are neither acceptable on a larger scale or can be
referred to. There are different complexities which arise in different situations. In such aspect
obeying one moral end can lead to infringing others in a wider aspect. In this assessment, there
are discussions done on the ethical dilemma that has been experienced in the workplace and the
resolving of the dilemma with the use of proper theory in order to overcome the situation. There
is the course of actions done based on such situational analysis. It can be said that ethical
dilemma is at times dangerous for a human being when he or she is especially at the workplace.
This is because lack of proper decision-making skills can hamper the current situations. The
assessment is based on the analysis of an ethical dilemma and its implications at the workplace.
Ethical scenario or dilemma
I have experienced an ethical dilemma in my workplace where I was unable to decide
whether I would go and complain about the incident or leave it. There is one of my co-workers
who used to get harassed by another employee in different instances. The harassments were both
mentally and physically as well. There was degradation in the mental condition of my co-worker.
I was not at all confident of reporting the incident to the authority; this is because I could have
been labeled as a troublemaker who is engaged in the displaying of unethical behavior towards
the other staffs (Backholm & Idås, 2015). It can be said that the problems that were being faced
by my co-workers was affecting me a lot. But I was literally facing issues to confiscate the issues
to the authority. This is because at times there are several problems that arise after complaining
about issues. I was unable to disclose the actual names of my co-worker as well as the person
who was disturbing her. It would lead to different other problems concerning self-respect. Such a
dilemma has led me to become inattentive in the office premises. These have also hampered my
work efficiency and style. Therefore I was literally planning to deal with the situation without
further conflict in the workplace. This is because, at the end of the day, we all have to work
together with a proper teamwork. I was planning on handling the situation is such a way that the
4

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
environment inside the office premises remains unaffected. But the main problem was that the
decision regarding the dilemma was harder to take (Richardson Yaapar & Amir, 2016).
Analysis of dilemma through
There are several theories of ethics that are like Utilitarianism, Kantian Imperatives,
Virtue and ethics and Ethics of care. These theories generally have different principles in guiding
with the solution of ethical dilemmas. Utilitarianism deals with the promotion of actions which
will generally maximize the happiness and the well being of the population that are the majority
in number. The Kantian Imperative theory deals with the rightness and wrongness of a certain
action which does not generally depend on the consequences but depends on the duty fulfilling.
Virtue and Ethics deal with the honesty and the morality which includes in a habit of the person.
It also includes generosity, honesty and the morality of virtues that are required to guide a person
ethically. Lastly, the Ethics of Care is solely based on the agent of morality in the recognition of
the relational interdependency (Horton, 2016). Therefore it goes with my case of ethical dilemma
where I was facing problems in reporting the authority about the harassment that was repeatedly
going on with my co-worker. My co-worker did not have the guts of complaining as the person
who was disturbing was a bit influential. Therefore she was thinking that she might lose her job
if the complaint is being done. Therefore I had no other options rather than reporting the overall
actions to the authority. On the basis of identifying the theory of ethics, I gathered myself and
reported the situation so that further actions can be taken for recovery (Guillén, Ferrero, &
Hoffman, 2015).
Course of action
It can be said that Ethics of Care is the theory which best suits the actions that I needed to
do in resolving my ethical dilemma about the situation in my workplace. Ethics of Care solely
guide on the agent of morality in the recognition of the relational interdependency. This includes
the specific care for self and also others related. It also cultivates the skills of attention and with
respect to the response, respect and also in the basic maintenance of a caring relationship.
Therefore with the use of this theory, I need to report the incident and respond properly to the
harassments that take place every day with my co-worker (Figar & Đorđević, 2016). It has also
helped in taking out actions of reducing the overall problems that were going on inside the office
5

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
premises with one of my co-workers. The ethics of care generally guides on the interdependency
state and the way of rational thinking in order to solve out the dilemma that can affect an
individual in taking the proper decision (Fleischman, Johnson, Walker & Valentine, 2017).
Principles/ test employed
The senior management needs to print a handbook of ethics which will comply with the
behavior and ethics that are to be maintained in a workplace. This will make a proper idea for the
staffs employed on the actual need to maintaining the decorum of office with respect to ethical
behaviors. The book should also have the punishments that will be mandated if proper ethical
behavior is not maintained inside the office premises (Omisore & Adeleke, 2015). This will
make each and every staff aware of the actions without simply putting a finger to a single
individual about the harassments he was doing. I would definitely get involved with such actions
if such situations arise in the workplace afterward. This will never direct a single person
highlighting the mistakes; rather provide a circular for each and every individual associated with
the organization in order to acknowledge a proper circular of the organizational ethics. Therefore
ssuch kinds of principle has been identified in handling the overall situation. It can be said that
will make a proper outcome of the problems that have arisen with situational context (Abbasi,
2015).
The course of action took
The management decided to team up the staffs in searching for the right course of actions
that are required with ethical behaviors. This is because it was the intention of the manager to
make us aware of the unethical works and in the identification of the punishable offenses. I was a
part of the team and helped my team member in finding the punishable actions that will be taken
but the authority if unethical behaviors are followed within the organization (Williams, 2017).
This has acknowledged my team members about the course of action that will be taken by the
authority in order to have a repetition of such actions. Therefore no individual self-respect is
harmed and the work is been done accordingly. The handbook will contain highlighted pages
that will indicate the specifications regarding the violence of workplace ethics. This will make a
huge impact in the employees and all other staffs associated with the organization. As the work
6

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
will be done via staff members it will be easier for the understanding purpose that no person will
be obliged if found guilty (De Clercq, Rahman & Haq, 2019).
I would generally act differently if I found that the company for which I am working does
not maintain any morale of conduct related to the workplace environment or employee safety.
This would let me consult the problems with my personal lawyer in order to solve the problems.
This could also result in changing company policies as well (Murtaza, Abbas, Raja, Roques,
Khalid & Mushtaq, 2016). There are many organizations which generally have a huge lag in the
safety and security of the staff members. This leads to different problems and often employers
leave a specific organization due to such causes if not solved. Therefore I would have taken
much more initiative in recommending the organization in building the frameworks associated
with the work safety and ethics. This is because keeping dilemmas in such aspect can harm both
the organization and employers interest as well. Therefore change in attitude and work will
definitely come in order to sustain the current situations if required. The dilemmas are to be
handled in accordance with the facts and evidence so that there are no gaps in assessing the case
individually. It will associate in further assessing with the solutions of the dilemmas in a proper
way (Baker, 2015).
Conclusion
It can be said that there are different kinds of ethical dilemmas that were being faced by a
person or an individual in the respected workplace. The situation needs to be analyzed with a
deeper course of actions. If the analysis of the situations is being perfectly assessed then there
will be fewer problems related to arriving in a particular decision. It will also avoid severe
ethical dilemmas. Therefore it can be said that ethical dilemmas often create huge confusion on
the human being in order to make decisions. I used the technique of being a team member of the
handbook that has to be printed with work ethics so that it becomes an integral part of the
workplace. It will also not individually pinpoint a person who was involved in such actions and
will provide a moral lesson of about workplace ethics. The recommendations should be followed
in order to have a proper solution of the situational dilemma.
7

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
Recommendation
 It is important to analyze the situations and think of better actions that can be taken in
order to solve the situation.
 If the course of action is risky and can harm the ethics and curriculum of a workplace,
then other alternatives should be applied in order to resolve the current issue.
 The decision that has to be taken should involve proper ethical outcome, it will appreciate
the overall situation.
 In the future, the course of actions against breaking workplace ethics needs to be
managed by authorities properly so that other staffs do not face any further problems.
This should be further recommended by the staffs itself in regulating actions and creating
workplace framework.
 Need to establish facts that surround the dilemma. This will help in the overall
establishment and the gathering of facts that surrounds the dilemma.
 There should be proper configuration with the legal duties and obligations. This will
confiscate the hesitation surrounds the dilemma.
8

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
Reference List
Journals
Abbasi, T. F. (2015). Impact of Work Overload on Stress, Job Satisfaction and Turnover
Intentions with Moderating Role of Islamic Work Ethics. Management Studies and
Economic Systems, 54(2518), 1-11. Retrieved from:
http://www.msaes.org/article_10101_45af31a610e2ab8f3fedc932d9db8d53.pdf
Backholm, K., & Idås, T. (2015). Ethical dilemmas, work‐related guilt, and posttraumatic stress
reactions of news journalists covering the terror attack in Norway in 2011. Journal of
Traumatic Stress, 28(2), 142-148. Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6110427/
Baker, M. (2015). Workplace climate: Metrics for ethics. Nature, 520(7549), 713-713. Retrieved
from: https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v520/n7549/full/nj7549-713a.html
De Clercq, D., Rahman, Z., & Haq, I. U. (2019). Explaining helping behavior in the workplace:
The interactive effect of family-to-work conflict and Islamic work ethic. Journal of
Business Ethics, 155(4), 1167-1177. Retrieved from:
https://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/40158/1/De%20Clercq-D-40158-AAM.pdf
Figar, N., & Đorđević, B. (2016). Managing an ethical dilemma. Economic Themes, 54(3), 345-
362. Retrieved from: https://www.degruyter.com/downloadpdf/j/ethemes.2016.54.issue-
3/ethemes-2016-0017/ethemes-2016-0017.pdf
Fleischman, G. M., Johnson, E. N., Walker, K. B., & Valentine, S. R. (2017). Ethics versus
outcomes: Managerial responses to incentive-driven and goal-induced employee
behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, 1-17. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eric_Johnson26/publication/319471795_Ethics_Ver
sus_Outcomes_Managerial_Responses_to_Incentive-Driven_and_Goal-
Induced_Employee_Behavior/links/59b01cf5a6fdcc3f8889a744/Ethics-Versus-
9

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
Outcomes-Managerial-Responses-to-Incentive-Driven-and-Goal-Induced-Employee-
Behavior.pdf
Guillén, M., Ferrero, I., & Hoffman, W. M. (2015). The neglected ethical and spiritual
motivations in the workplace. Journal of business ethics, 128(4), 803-816. Retrieved
from: https://dadun.unav.edu/bitstream/10171/43105/1/wp8.pdf
Horton, K. B. (2016). Exploring workplace bullying through a social work ethics-informed
lens. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 13(1), 25-32. Retrieved from:
http://jswve.org/download/2016-1/articles/13-1-2016-25-Exploring-Workplace-
Bullying.pdf
Murtaza, G., Abbas, M., Raja, U., Roques, O., Khalid, A., & Mushtaq, R. (2016). Impact of
Islamic work ethics on organizational citizenship behaviors and knowledge-sharing
behaviors. Journal of Business Ethics, 133(2), 325-333. Retrieved from:
https://philarchive.org/archive/MURIOI
Omisore, B. O., & Adeleke, O. A. (2015). Work Ethics, Values, Attitudes and Performance in
the Nigerian Public Service: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward. Journal of Public
Administration and Governance, 1, 157-172. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernard_Omisore2/publication/
277616491_Work_Ethics_Values_Attitudes_and_Performance_In_The_Nigerian_Public
_Service_Issues_Challenges_and_The_Way_Forward/links/
57756c3808ae1b18a7dfdfa3.pdf
Richardson, C., Yaapar, M. S., & Amir, S. (2016). Budi and Malay workplace ethics. Journal of
Asia Business Studies, 10(1), 78-92. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Richardson13/publication/
290213021_Budi_and_Malay_workplace_ethics/links/5b0a0f4f0f7e9b1ed7f7d69b/Budi-
and-Malay-workplace-ethics.pdf
Williams, A. P. (2017). Residential ethnography, mixed loyalties, and religious power: ethical
dilemmas in faith-based addiction treatment. Social & Cultural Geography, 18(7), 1016-
10

Ethical Dilemmas in the workplace
1038. Retrieved from: http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/entra/v13n2/1900-3803-entra-13-02-
00092.pdf
11