Ethical Dilemma 1 An affair with a married colleague
A co-worker having an affair with a colleague is a problem. It is because it amounts to adultery, and it is unacceptable behavior in the view of the public. Taking the management perspective, it is a problem because it will most probably lead to problems in the workplace. It will be so mainly if the two parties involved do not take precautions in their relationship. That is, if they are working in the same department or office, they should avoid intimate encounters and talks in the office, and they should also ensure that their relationship does not affect teamwork, in case they are members of the same team. In the case of a breakup, it will take overly mature individuals to avoid the relationship from affecting their work.
This argument is based on the approach that these two individuals are in a pastime relationship. Considering the possibility of a relationship leading to marriage later in life, if the two individuals manage their relationship such that it in no way affects their work, the situation is not a problem.
Ethical Dilemma 2: The use of the company computer for E-bay transactions
A teammate using the company computer for e-bay transactions is a problem. It is a problem because it will undoubtedly affect his productivity at work and also because he will be spending company resources on personal business. This conclusion is arrived at assuming that the company does not deal with e-bay transactions and that the transactions do not benefit the company in any way.
That is, making the transactions will not make the company gain valuable information that could be beneficial to it. However, in a case where the company has authorized its employees to use the company computer for personal business, the situation will not be a problem. Similarly, a company that deals with e-bay transactions may have its employees making e-bay transactions using its computers.
Ethical Dilemma 3: Friendship with a Competitor’s Employee
The stated situation of a former college roommate working for a competitor and inquiring about marketing plans for a new product is not a problem. It is because he just asks, and his asking does not necessarily mean that I will answer him/her. However, if I give him the information, there will be a problem because it will amount to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive company information. It is assuming that I am not authorized to disclose such information. There is a no different approach that could justify the disclosure of such sensitive company information.
Ethical Dilemma 4: Adding leisure-related expenses onto the travel reimbursement requests
The addition of leisure-related expenses to travel reimbursement requests is a problem. It is because it amounts to fraud, and my friend is defrauding the company of its resources because travel expenses are normally reimbursed. This conclusion is arrived at with the assumption that the stated leisure-related expenses are not normally catered for by the company. In the case where such expenses are catered for by the company, my colleague will not be wrong to add the leisure-related expenses.
Ethical Dilemma 5: A gift from a client during an important negotiation
If a client gives you a gift in the middle of an important negotiation, it is a problem. It is because the gift is undoubtedly meant to make you give the client better terms for the negotiation. Thus, in this case, the timing for the gift is wrong. This conclusion is arrived at with the assumption that the results of the negotiation are entirely dependent on the negotiation. However, in a case where negotiation is meant to make the client know the terms of the company in the long run and where the negotiation will not affect the terms, it is not a problem to receive a gift from the client.