More recently you have found yourself concerned about how the business is travel

Question

More recently you have found yourself concerned about how the business is travelling and the fact that forced retrenchment may be just around the corner. Every few years, it seems, top management slashes jobs as work slackens off--only to hire again when things start looking up. So when you notice that the Board and executives are again meeting behind closed doors, you suspected the worst. Your boss, Steve Kerrigan, who is part of the executive team, however has a very open relationship with you so you ask him what is happening. Steve explains the contingency plan at length - mentioning that, if layoffs were needed, at least one of your team members, would lose their job. They will however be handsomely rewarded with a "golden handshake". He also makes it clear that you are to keep all this information confidential Not long after that conversation, you are approached by one of your team, Susan. She is a hard worker, and one of your best. Confidentially, she is weighing up whether or not to resign due to anil family member who needs fulltime care. She tells you that her sister is very important to her and is suffering from cancer, and she is willing to bear the financial burden of unemployment to take care of her as her condition is terminal. First however, she wants to know if the rumours are true and that there may be retrenchment packages offered if she waits around. You are now in the truth-versus loyalty dilemma-you know the truth and could answer accurately, but you have also given your word not to break a confidence, and feel a strong loyalty to your boss. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify the ethical issue or problem. List the facts that have the most bearing on the decision Identify anyone who might be affected by your decision and how Explain what each affected person would want you to do about the issue List two to three alternative actions and identify the best and worst case scenario for each alternative, anyone who would be harmed by this choice (and how), any values that would be compromised by selecting this alternative, and any automatic reasons why this alternative should not be selected (legal issues, rules, etc.]) Determine a course of action 6.

Explanation / Answer

Q1) The ethical issue is a dilemma between

- revealing a truth known from the individual's boss behind close doors that if revealed to a colleague, would help her plan for her future to resolve personal problems (vs)

- keeping the loyalty and promise to the boss to keep the information as secret till it is officially announced by the management.

Q2) The facts that have the most bearing on the decision include -

1. The personal problems of Susan and her family.

2. The way in which knowing the information in advance would help Susan.

3. Leakage of the information to selective people and its consequences.

Q3) Below are the stakeholders affected by the decision -

1. Top management of the firm

2. Steve Kerrigan

3. The employee who is the subordinate to Steve

4. Susan, the employee's team member

5. Other team members of the employee.

Q4) Below is how each affected person would want the employee to do about the issue -

1. Susan would like the employee to provide the information in advance for better planning.

2. Steve would want the information to be kept secret to avoid reprimands form the top management.

3. Other team members would like the information either to be leaked to everyone or to be kept secret.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse M
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.