Your Work In The Ethics Department For ABC Company

You Work In The Ethics Department For Abc Company Abc Your Departme

You work in the Ethics Department for ABC Company (ABC). Your department is dedicated to advising its employees about their ethical obligations in the corporate setting. You are an internal consultant who provides advice and recommendations for action to employees of the firm. All communications you receive in this capacity are confidential. Luke, an employee of ABC, comes to you with a scenario and asks for your advice. He wants to fully consider the situation and requires guidance based on one of four ethical theories—Utilitarianism, Kant’s Categorical Imperative, The Golden Rule, or Virtue Ethics. Your task is to select only one theory, support your choice with your reasoning, and provide recommendations accordingly. The facts provided by Luke are as follows: he has been asked to work on a project developing land purchased by ABC to build an adult entertainment retail store, located near Luke’s brother Owen’s neighborhood. The project’s plans, once made public, are expected to significantly decrease property values in the surrounding area. ABC plans to announce the project in one month. Luke is concerned about his confidentiality obligations to ABC. Meanwhile, Owen has received an offer to sell his house at an “okay” price, but he considers waiting for the market to improve for a better offer. He is unsure whether to sell now or wait. The ethical issue involves whether Luke should disclose insider knowledge or act otherwise, considering his duties to his employer and his personal obligations to Owen.

Paper For Above instruction

This paper analyzes the ethical dilemma faced by Luke, an employee of ABC Company, within the framework of Virtue Ethics. It approach the scenario by focusing solely on virtues such as honesty, integrity, loyalty, and prudence to guide the appropriate course of action. Given the facts, Luke is caught between his loyalty to his employer, which necessitates maintaining confidentiality about the project, and his concern for his brother Owen, who is contemplating selling his house in a neighborhood likely to be affected adversely by the store development.

Virtue Ethics emphasizes character traits that define moral behavior, rather than strictly adhering to rules or calculating consequences. It advocates for acting in a manner that a morally upright person would consider virtuous. In this context, Luke’s primary virtues include honesty and loyalty towards his employer, as well as compassion and prudence concerning his brother’s interests. The ethical challenge lies in balancing these virtues without compromising his integrity or betraying trust.

From a virtuous perspective, Luke should prioritize honesty and integrity while respecting his confidentiality obligations. Revealing insider information about the project’s plans to Owen would violate his commitment to his employer’s confidentiality and could evoke legal repercussions. Conversely, acting dishonestly or withholding relevant information should not be encouraged, as it would undermine his moral character and trustworthiness. Instead, Luke should uphold transparency with his employer, ensuring he adheres to ethical standards and maintains his reputation as an honest employee.

However, compassion and prudence also suggest that Luke consider Owen’s situation thoughtfully. While he must maintain confidentiality regarding the project, he can, for example, advise Owen generally to seek professional real estate advice or suggest waiting for market improvements without revealing specific insider information. This approach shows empathy for Owen’s concerns and demonstrates good moral character by acting prudently and kindly.

Moreover, Virtue Ethics would endorse that Luke reflect on his motivations and character to determine the best course of action. Acting out of loyalty to his employer without disregarding his virtues of honesty and compassion enhances his moral integrity. The choice to refrain from sharing non-public information aligns with acting in accordance with virtues, fostering moral development and a good character.

In conclusion, based on Virtue Ethics, Luke should continue to maintain confidentiality about the project, uphold honesty and integrity, and avoid sharing insider information. At the same time, he can express general concern and support to Owen without breaching confidentiality. This approach respects all virtues—honesty, loyalty, compassion, and prudence—and reflects a morally exemplary way of handling the dilemma.

References

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