Workplace Ethics Activity: Making Informed Ethical Decisions

CASE 1: 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.

1. Ethical Issue
Lorna's leakage of company interview questions to Bill
2. Most Bearing Facts
● Lorna is an HR Administrative Assistant in her company
● She has the right to access the interview questionnaire as an HR
employee
● She has the urge to help his friend wherein biasment will be formed
3. Possible Affected People and How It Impact Them
● Lorna
● Bill
● The Company
If Lorna gives the interview questionnaire, Bill might be hired without
putting him into a test for his deserving position and possibly to show
unexpected performance. This will reflect the HR department, which
includes Lorna, and the company's reputation itself. In addition, if other
people knew that there is biasment made during the job interview, the
company might be the talk of the town, Lorna could lose her job and Bill
could be prohibited from applying to other companies in the future.
4. Affected People Would Want You To Do
● Lorna - keep it as a secret between us to prevent any issue and
company termination
● Bill - will ask him to help get hired for living
● The Company - allow potential employees to be interviewed without
coaching in the future
5. Alternative Actions
a. Lorna can recommend Bill for other job opportunities to avoid any
potential unethical issue.
 b. If Bill really insists on asking for help to apply for Lorna's company,
she may share tips and tricks based on her own interview
experience during her job searching years. She may also share an
interview questionnaire based on Google.
c. Lorna can explain to Bill that she cannot provide him the actual
interview questionnaire for she must protect the image and integrity
of her company as a loyal employee and will not tolerate any form of
cheating.
6. Course of Action
If I were Lorna, I would help Bill through other ways to pass his interview
like giving him tips and sending some great youtube tutorials. I can also
offer to have a one on one simulation of an actual job interview based on
an interview questionnaire found on google. I believe this is enough to help
him become more prepared. I won't give him the actual interview
questionnaire for the fairness of all incoming employees, company's
reputation and my career security.

CASE 2: 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.

1. Ethical Issue
Emily holds the refurbished computers to be given away but her son
needs a computer unit for his college learning.
2. Most Bearing Facts
● Emily works in company's quality control
● No any specific records regarding the transaction were kept
3. Possible Affected People and How It Impact Them
● Emily
● Emily's Son
● The Company
If Emily attempted to take a computer unit, she might get caught and be
misunderstood for taking advantage of her position causing her to be
terminated. Therefore, the company might impact its reputation and lose
 count of their inventory. However, if Emily decided not to take a computer,
her son's education and learning will surely be affected.
4. Affected People Would Want You To Do
● Emily - would consider taking a computer unit because her son
needs one
● The Company - would want Emily to give away the computers to the
said receiver and not to take a unit for herself
5. Alternative Actions
a. Emily could send a request to her supervisor if she could take one
unit for her son. She could explain that it would be very beneficial for
Emily as she would save big education expenses and her son will
have efficient learning.
b. If her request was declined by her supervisor, she could ask the
school if they would allow her to keep one of the computers for her
son.
c. If both declined her requests, she could look for cheaper second
hand computers in the marketplace that will suit her budget for her
son's educational needs or look for people who have computers for
disposal.
c) Course of Action
If I were in Emily's shoes, I would first ask my supervisor about my request.
If disapproved, I'll then ask the chosen school to be given the computers. I
think this is an ethical way to do it instead of taking a unit without
permission since the computer will be used for good. If both reject my
request, I'll look for second hand computers to at least save some money.
If the budget is not enough for a unit, the last resort will be telling my son to
rent a unit at the internet café whenever he needs the use of a computer.