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The Ethical Dilemma
Posted by B2B on: 2006-08-11 10:38:13
What one should do in a situation that presents two or more alternatives or which involves a dilemma, remains always ambiguously answered. 'Selecting the right and sticking to it' is a myth. 'Right and wrong' are very personal. There is no universal touchstone method to decide on what is ethically right and what is not. Selecting one of the right ones is much more difficult than selecting the right and avoiding the wrong. The following are three such situations involving ethical issues, which people may face in workplaces or in business and which may invoke different responses from different individuals.
When a situation--whether to reveal to a regular customer that a competitor sells at a cheaper price the very same product, which is about the clien's affordable price-- arises no code, policy, procedure or approach can help us resolve the dilemma. This is a dilemma which very commonly arises. If you inform the client of the availability of the product at his affordable price, the client himself may think ill of you. If he is a regular client, not giving him help may prick your conscience. So to safeguard your business interests and to help the client, passing on a general information of such product availability in his price rage would help, without making any specific mention of the business house, where it is available.
Another problem is basically lack of promotional avenues. The merit-based approach requires a promotion to the employee as recognition of what he has achieved. But the situation doesn't warrant an additional man in the grade above him. So other ways have to be thought of. Allotting a considerable number of shares, and\or authorizing a cash award should certainly help; but should be done after taking into confidence the said employee and explaining the predicament under which you have decided to do so. This will certainly avoid unnecessary ill-feelings and also help improve employee relationship, in that, that you have taken pains to do what is possible to recognize his services at that moment.
Ethics on personal use of office facilities requires much more care. The management may not have prescribed any code toward that. But at the same time using work-facilities for personal gains has to be curbed, since that would pave way for other irregularities. Even if the official uses such facilities to improve one's personal work related skills, that should be taken note of and may be condoned. Such actions would create awareness among employees about work place ethics.
Contact: Narayanan Krishnaswamy, prof.english@gmail.com
About the author:
Professor of English. Taught English at university level for 37 years. Turned freelance writer,editor and teacher on retirement.
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