Business ethics presupposes that companies and organizations should promote equality and integrity of employees and other stakeholders. However, So Cal’s water agency has not adhered to this provision and has gone ahead to put fewer efforts into promoting employees’ rights and integrity. The agency has reported several racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation cases (Elmahrek, 2022). Organizations that defend employees’ rights state that organizations that do not value their employees make them susceptible to harassment and unfair treatment. So Cal’s water agency has failed to adhere to ethical codes of conduct between employees and stakeholders. Women in the agency are faced with sexual harassment while they are undertaking their duties. Furthermore, numerous cases of racial stereotyping are faced by employees and retaliation (Elmahrek, 2022). Practices of unequal hiring have been experienced by employees in So Cal’s Water Agency. Employees affected by these issues aired their grievances to different media and 9to5 Women Employment Organization to find remedial solutions.
The stakeholders in this ethical case include women employees vulnerable to sexual harassment, So Cal’s Water Agency, men and women employees, and 9to5 Women Employment Organization. The best approach to handle this case is for So Cal’s Water Agency management to have their scrutiny of the issues in the company. The agency, through its respective management, should then inspect these issues by taking legal action against perpetrators of unethical acts faced by employees. The agency should also set rules that will hold accountable those who will be found violating ethical codes of conduct while at work. Promoting actions that do not enhance enabling employee working environment is unethical. The agency needs to create a public platform where aspiring employees can freely and fairly submit their applications for hiring (Elmahrek, 2022). More so, So Cal’s should establish a body in its management that will defend employees’ rights while working in the agency.
The case was solved adequately; however, I would reach So Cal’s stakeholder management and educate them on the correlation between a favorable employee working environment and resultant organizational success. I would also request the agency’s management to create a department that will be vigilant in scrutinizing employee complaints. Legal actions should then be taken against those breaking business ethics laws. For this reason, the issue of racism, sexual harassment, and retaliation will be addressed effectively.
Reference
Elmahrek, A. (2022). Racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation inside So Cal’s powerful water agency. Los Angeles Times. Web.