Ethical Memoir Stephanie Nweke Chamberlain Col

Ethical Memoir 2ethical Memoirstephanie Nwekechamberlain College

Ethical Memoir Stephanie Nweke Chamberlain College of Nursing 445NR : Ethics Spring 2020 ETHICAL MEMOIR 4 Ethical Memoir Being a college student you go through and learn through the years that shape you for the rest of your life. In college, I was known for being what you call a hustler. I was also trying to pursue my career in nursing at the time taking full-time hours. At the time I knew that had to work to provide for myself and pay for my living as well as to keep me afloat. When it comes to it everyone goes through that time of not having any money and struggling to make ends meet.

You go through the ups and downs for moving out of your parent’s comfort and living on your own. I was one of the many that had struggled with keeping up with a lot in college as well as keeping my grades up and having a social life. My biggest struggle was just making sure that I was financially stable in my day to day life. I worked as a server which was my main income at the time. Most weeks I would go to school but also working on the weekends and sometimes during the week.

Serving at the time was becoming tedious for me. In the times we went through periods where we weren’t getting as many customers coming in. Meaning that we wouldn’t make money, fewer customers, fewer tips. We had a very dry season this year that I was barely making my rent and to pay for my books or supplies. It went up to effecting me for up to a couple of months because I wasn’t making what I was used to and it made me very happy with working the job.

I decided I couldn’t handle the financial stress of the server at my job of 2 years especially with everything going on. Within that next month, I decided to get a new job and I was very lucky to get an interview with Ulta that was right across from my apartment. I thought this job was going to be the best for me it paid well enough so I could continue working at Buffalo part-time and I could work at Ulta part-time. I started at Ulta and it was very different from all the jobs that I have worked because it was on the retail side of things. It was very different for me it was my first time having to sell and learn about products.

I was working with high-end makeup that can cost around $50 to $30 per item. There was quite a couple of expensive products that we even have to tag with alarm systems to secure that people were not stealing. I always had a hobby makeup and I loved learning about all the new products that Ulta had to sell to our customers. One thing that was big in training was about making sure that we made ethical decisions. I had to make sure that my coworkers did not pocket any items as well as customers.

I had a coworker who had an issue following the rules as for me I was more of a rule follower, I came and did my job and followed all the rules. She wasn’t a bad person I didn’t see any weird or unethical behaviors we became quite close. One day I came into work and we were working the cash register that day. We started a conversation about how I wanted a new foundation that had come out, and she wanted to purchase the foundation as well. We continued about the colors of the foundation and how versatile the colors were in shades.

The foundation was a big hit at our store since it was just released. I told her lets put aside 2 foundations so that we can purchase them after our shift. We were allowed to hold makeup in a drawer that we wanted to purchase and we could purchase after the shift. She went ahead and put the foundations aside and as well as some other products that we were going to purchase at the end of our shift. At the end of our shift before we leave, we clean, restock and place all the unwanted items back in the correct spot.

As we grabbed our basket to place things back I realized I saw that she had put the foundation and her other products we were to purchase in her pockets. She noticed that I saw her and she tried to play it off and say “Oh they won’t even notice it is nothing.” Right then and there I faced the ethical decision if I should say something to my managers or if I should allow her to walk out with the unpaid makeup and act like I didn’t see anything. I feel a need to make sure that ethically I was following the rules that I said I would follow when I started working at Ulta. I took me a day or two to confess to a manager just because I had gone back and forth on whether I would somehow be in the wrong but then I decided that I would go ahead and just tell them what had occurred even if it meant to put one of my work friends in a hard place.

I knew that the right decision was to be open and let my manager know what was going on. That is completely what I felt will be the ethical standard view of my choice was being honest. Ethical decision making is a process that requires making a correct balance and with that, I knew that I had to come front. We deal with ethical dilemmas almost daily it is just up to you whether you will do what is morally right. References Ruggiero, V. R. (2019). Thinking critically about ethical issues. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill Education.

Paper For Above instruction

Ethical decision making plays a crucial role in guiding individuals to act according to moral principles, especially in workplace settings where choices can have significant implications. My personal experience working at Ulta provided a vivid illustration of such ethical dilemmas, highlighting the importance of integrity, honesty, and adherence to moral standards within professional environments.

During my tenure at Ulta, I was trained extensively on making ethical decisions, particularly concerning the security of high-end products and the prevention of theft. Working with expensive makeup items, some tagged with alarm systems, instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility to uphold company policies and ethical standards. One day, a coworker and I were preparing to leave after our shift when I observed her covertly placing products, including foundations, into her pockets. Her attempt to dismiss my observation by claiming “Oh they won’t even notice, it is nothing” posed an immediate ethical challenge: should I ignore her actions or report her to management?

This incident exemplifies a common ethical dilemma faced in the workplace: balancing loyalty to colleagues against moral and organizational standards. Initially, I felt conflicted because I did not want to cause trouble for my coworker, whom I had grown to trust. However, the potential loss or theft of company property conflicted with my value of honesty. Reflecting on this situation, I recognized that my responsibilities extended beyond personal feelings; I had an ethical obligation to report the misconduct to maintain integrity within the organization.

The process of ethical decision making involves evaluating the situation, considering the consequences of different actions, and choosing the course that aligns most closely with moral principles. In this case, the right action—reporting the theft—aligned with principles of honesty and organizational integrity. After weighing my options, I decided to confide in my manager, even though I was aware that doing so might put my relationship with the coworker at risk. My decision underscores the importance of moral courage and adherence to ethical standards, especially when personal loyalty conflicts with professional principles.

This experience underscores the importance of maintaining ethical standards in workplaces, particularly in retail environments where the temptation for theft can be high. It also demonstrates that ethical decision making often involves confronting uncomfortable truths, but ultimately reinforces trust and accountability within the organization. As Ruggiero (2019) emphasizes, critical thinking and moral reasoning are vital skills in navigating complex ethical issues, ensuring that individuals act in morally sound ways despite facing potential pressures or conflicts.

In conclusion, my experience at Ulta exemplifies the crucial role of ethics in everyday professional decision making. Upholding honesty and integrity, even under challenging circumstances, fosters trust and accountability. Recognizing the importance of timely and morally courageous action can prevent unethical behavior from proliferating, thereby supporting the larger organizational and societal good. It is essential for individuals to cultivate ethical awareness and decision-making skills, particularly in roles involving high-stakes or sensitive situations.

References

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