Analyze These Three Ethical Scenarios: Lorna Is An Administr

Analyze These Three Ethical Scenarios Lorna Is An Administrative Ass

Analyze these three ethical scenarios: Lorna is an administrative assistant in the human resources department. Her good friend, Bill, is applying for a job with the company, and she has agreed to serve as a reference for him. Bill approaches her for advice on preparing for the interview. Lorna has the actual interview questions and considers making him a copy of the list so he can adequately prepare. Is this unethical behavior? Why or why not? Suzy and Tom work on an assembly line making computer parts. While there are safety protocols in place to prevent workplace injuries, these policies slow down the pace of work. Since employees are paid per computer part that gets assembled, Suzy and Tom decide not to follow the safety procedures so that they can speed up the pace of assembly. Is this unethical behavior? Why or why not? * Jennie was recently hired to work as a receptionist for the front lobby. As a receptionist, she is responsible for making copies for the associates. Her son Bruce comes in and needs to make some copies for a school project. He brought his own paper and needs 300 copies for his class. If he does not bring the copies with him, he will fail the project. The company copier does not require a security key, nor do they keep track of copies made by departments, so Jennie allows her son make the copies at her work. Is this unethical behavior? Why or why not? Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Paper For Above instruction

The ethical scenarios presented involve nuanced considerations that probe the boundaries of professional conduct, honesty, and responsibilities within the workplace. Analyzing each scenario reveals the importance of ethical principles such as integrity, fairness, and respect for organizational policies.

The first scenario involving Lorna, an administrative assistant in the human resources department, presents a clear ethical dilemma. She has access to the actual interview questions and considers sharing them with her friend, Bill, who is applying for a job within the same organization. This act would constitute a breach of confidentiality and integrity. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM, 2015), maintaining the confidentiality of interview materials is crucial to ensure fair and unbiased recruitment practices. Sharing interview questions not only jeopardizes the fairness of the hiring process but also violates ethical standards of honesty and trust. Such actions could result in unfair advantages, undermine the credibility of the hiring process, and potentially lead to disciplinary action for Lorna. Ethical behavior in her position would involve withholding the questions and advising Bill to prepare through legitimate means, such as practicing typical interview responses or researching the company (Crane & Matten, 2016).

In the second scenario, Suzy and Tom, who work on an assembly line, choose to ignore safety protocols to increase their productivity. While their motivation is to maximize earnings, this decision violates fundamental occupational health and safety standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 2020) emphasizes that safety procedures are established not just for organizational compliance but to protect workers from injury or death. Ignoring such protocols compromises employee well-being and violates ethical principles related to the duty of care employers and employees owe each other. Speeding up work at the expense of safety could lead to workplace accidents, injuries, or fatalities, which are morally unacceptable regardless of productivity gains. Ethically, workers and management have a responsibility to adhere to safety standards, emphasizing that productivity should not come at the expense of health and safety (Gunningham, 2012). Therefore, Suzy and Tom's decision is unethical, as it disregards the moral obligation to ensure a safe work environment.

The third scenario involves Jennie, a receptionist, who permits her son Bruce to make copies at her workplace. Although her action might seem a minor personal favor, it raises concerns about unauthorized use of company resources. The copier does not track copies made, and allowing her son to use it without authorization constitutes misuse of organizational property for personal reasons. Organizational policies generally prohibit personal use of company resources unless explicitly permitted (Taylor & Yalcin, 2020). Allowing her son to make copies could set a precedent for misuse and potentially cause security or confidentiality issues if sensitive information is involved. Ethically, employees are expected to uphold organizational policies and act with honesty and integrity. Jennie’s decision to permit her son’s use of the copier constitutes a breach of organizational ethics and professional responsibility, even if the activity appears benign (Valentine, 2017). An ethical approach would involve Jennie refusing her son’s request or suggesting alternative arrangements that do not involve misuse of company resources.

In conclusion, each of these scenarios underscores the importance of adhering to ethical principles in the workplace. Lorna's decision to share confidential interview questions compromises integrity; Suzy and Tom’s disregard for safety protocols endangers wellbeing; Jennie’s permit to use company resources for personal reasons violates organizational policies. Ethical conduct requires employees to prioritize honesty, safety, and organizational integrity, thereby fostering a trustworthy and safe working environment.

References

• Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2016). Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press.
• Gunningham, N. (2012). Systems of safety management: How the interplay of safety culture, safety regulation, and organizational form influences safety outcomes. Law & Policy, 34(1-2), 129–154.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2020). OSHA Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines. U.S. Department of Labor.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). (2015). Code of Ethical and Professional Standards in Human Resource Management. SHRM.
• Taylor, R., & Yalcin, A. (2020). Ethical issues in organizational resource management. Journal of Business Ethics, 162(4), 751–764.
• Valentine, S. (2017). Ethical decision making in organizations. Routledge.