Professional Ethics

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 asked of all applicants and considers making him a copy of the list so he can adequately prepare. Do you think Lorna is right to do so according to ethical dilemma issues?

Answer explanation

Lorna can help her friend but she should not share the actual questions of the interview with him.

Since the questions are not available to other candidates, it would give her friend an unfair advantage

Emily works in Quality Control. Once a year, her supervisor gives away the refurbished computers to the local elementary school. No specific records are kept of this type of transaction and Emily really needs a computer for her son who is in college. Her supervisor asks her to deliver 12 computer systems to the school. If you were in Emily’s place, what would you do? How can codes of ethics at your workplace help?

Answer explanation

Emily is in a place of conflict of interest. Codes of Ethics can give guidelines in such situations but the best option for her would be to opt for full disclosure to her immediate boss. This would safeguard her future position with the company too.

Richard and Conway are talking in the hallway about the employee benefits program. Conway, who has had some recent financial trouble, explains to Richard how the benefits program has a loophole that will allow him to receive some financial assistance that he really needs to help pay health care costs for his mother. Cathy, a fellow worker, overhears the conversation. Later, Cathy is approached by her supervisor who says he heard a rumor that some people were taking advantage of the company benefits program. What do you suggest Cathy should do?

Answer explanation

Cathy has a moral obligation to disclose any misuse of company resources. But in this case, she can approach her friends and inform them of the company being wary of employee misuse. She has a moral obligation to her friends also.

Marvin is the secretary in the Facilities Management Department. He has just received a new computer and wants to try it out. Though his supervisor has a strict policy about computer use for business purposes only, he wants to learn the e-mail software more thoroughly than his training can provide. One good way to do this, he figures, is to write e-mail messages to his friends and relatives until he Agets the knack of it. He is caught up on all his work and only has 30 minutes left to work today. His supervisor left early. Do you think Marvin is right to do so according to ethical dilemma issues? Justify your response.

Answer explanation

There is nothing wrong here since no misuse has occured

Jennie was recently hired to work as a receptionist for the front lobby. As receptionist, she is responsible for making copies for the associates. Her son, Bruce, comes in and needs some copies for a school project. He brought his own paper and needs 300 copies for his class. If he doesn’t 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. What do you suggest Jennie should do?

Answer explanation

Regardless, of copier not requiring any key/code, it is wrong to use office supplies for personal use without letting the company know. It is in Jennie's best interest to inform someone of her usage of copier for personal articles.