Posted: April 27th, 2020
Business Ethical Dilemma Sample Essay Topic
Business Ethical Dilemma
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Ethical Business Dilemma
An ethical dilemma involves a situation that needs a person to make a choice where there are only two options and they both have a moral implication. The situation comes around as a person goes on with their normal daily lives. In business, many aspects expose people to dilemmas. For instance, procurement services, recruitment and tenders in the firms subject management and the people involved in the transactions to many ethical dilemmas.
As a human resource manager at Quick-Tech Solutions, I was faced with a dilemma in the recent recruitment of new workers. While recruitment is being done, there are standard procedures that should be followed to get the right candidate (DeVaro, 2008). Further, there are policies that guide the process. Quick-Tech did not allow employment of family and close relatives. Nepotism is one of the common problems in the human resources department and it requires well-thought policies to prevent it from happening (Bacon & Hoque, 2005). While people applied to the open positions, my niece also applied without my knowledge. The shortlisting of the candidates for the interview was done by the subordinate staff and my niece qualified for the interview of which she also passed and qualified for an employment. While the names of the qualified persons for employment were forwarded, I learned that my niece was among the names that were forwarded to me for approval. The company policy bars me from employing close relatives to any of the workers in the company. On the other hand, I could not disqualify the cause of her merits. My dilemma is that I have to make a choice either to follow the company rules and dismiss my niece or be quiet about the issue and allow her to get the job.
Justification of the Dilemma
Ethical dilemmas are a common thing in business when either rules, policies and interest of person clash (Baker & Comer, 2011). All these aspects of a business ethics help organizations to be run in a proper way. Nepotism is one of the biggest challenges to firms and there is a challenge of addressing it without getting into accusations of discrimination (Ford & McLaughlin, 1985). I chose the dilemma of nepotism because it is a real challenge that faces the human resource department (Mihailović & Cvijanović, 2013). Unscrupulous officer oversteps their mandate in recruitment to extend favours to people close to them even when they are not qualified. On the other hand, it is possible to separate an informal relationship from the professional relationship in the workplace (Teal & Carroll, 1999). However, as a human resource manager, I have a responsibility of ensuring that the company policies are upheld and respected (Boatright & John, 1998).
The company out ruled the employment of family and close relatives a year ago after it was discovered that informal relationships were affecting the performance of the company. Self-interest had taken over the position of company goals and objective. Often, the company goals should set precedence on the actions of all workers. When the focus is taken off thus goals, the company goals will suffer in terms of missing its target (Ichniowski, Shaw & Prennushi, 1999). The situation is a dilemma for me because this is my niece who has been struggling and I knew about her situation. Dismissing her at this stage where she is almost getting a job will put me into conflict with the family.
Different theories apply when dealing with ethical dilemmas in business. One of the theories is the utilitarian theory. This theory holds that an action can be seen as either ethical or not ethical depending on the outcome. Therefore, if an activity generates much good for the business, it will be taken as ethical. Further, an ethical action includes the ordering of the rules and standards in a manner that results in the ultimate helpfulness of the situation at hand. However, being the person in the dilemma is the head of human resource, he has a responsibility to ensure that he does not lead on breaking the company’s policies Human resource is an important department in ensuring the employees have the right morale at the workplace (Ichniowski, Shaw & Prennushi, 1999). Therefore, it could be good for an employee the niece for she has been seeking a job. The workers should also be made to understand the reasons for going against the anti-nepotism policy so as to prevent any issues that may arise in the future if our relationship comes out in the open.
Rights ethical approach is another theory that applies an ethical dilemma. This theory holds that every person has inherent rights in life that should be respected. Under this theory, an ethical action is recognized through observing the rights of an individual (Waters, Bird & Chant, 1986). Most business ethics are based on this theory so that they can create right relationships with the workers and the customers (Schutte & Jacobs, 1968). Also, the theory holds that the best way to manage issues of ethics and morality is by framing a strategy that will keep the business policies without violating any person’s rights. Further, the rights theory presents that the rights of a person are autonomous above any other variant that affects them. Therefore, under this theory, it means that dismissing the niece could be against her right to getting employment given that she is qualified.
Proposed Ethical Solutions
Ethical dilemmas require polished leadership skills to solve (Stockall & Dennis, 2015). A leader, in this case, should possess high moral intelligence. Further, while deciding in a case such as the one presented, the leaders need to be careful not to encourage a practice of unethical behaviour in the business. For instance, if the workers learn that I have hired my niece, they will also seek to have their qualified relatives to be given a chance in the company. When a company comes up with an anti-nepotism policy, the aim is to discourage and bar favouritism and interpersonal conflicts from affecting the production activities of the business (Raiborn & Dinah, 1990). Therefore, I had to give the situation a deep thought before deciding.
The anti-nepotism policy needs to be understood clearly by both the employers and the persons that apply to the company (Robinson, 2005). Understanding the rationale behind a policy will help the affected parties to learn why they cannot find a chance at the organization. Further, while making an anti-nepotism rule, it is right to give limits to it like barring family and close relatives from working in the same department (Unwin, 2005). The circumstances under which the employment of relatives is prohibited should be clear to inhibit the questioning of the applicability of the policy (Sinha & Thaly, 2013). Further, if a relative is to be employed, the two employees should ensure that their relationship does not get in the way of their productivity in the company.
Sometimes, anti-nepotism rules may be taken as discriminatory. Therefore, firms have a responsibility to come up with recruitment policies that do not go against the rights of people (Sarkar & Kumar, 2007). For instance, if the worry is on the relatives supervising each other in the same department, then the policy should be limited to the relatives in the same office and department. The roles they hold should result in minimal interaction between them while they are conducting official duties. The aim should be to have the employees having the right morale to work. When there lacks an option to deal with family members issues at work, then the organization should resolve to revamp its anti-nepotism policy (Fu, 2015).
To deal with the issue, I decided to involve the management to discuss the issue and help me decide. I explained my lack of involvement in the whole process that led to the choosing an essay Assignment: I need help writing a research paper. of my niece as the suitable person for the employment. Also, I highlighted the failure to state policy on the job advert could cause the company to appear discriminatory if the policy was implemented. Therefore, in her application, my niece was not aware of the application of the policy in the organization. Denying her the opportunity could then be discrimination against her. Also, employing her would likely cause the other employees to have a negative attitude towards the human resource department. It could even lead to wrangles within the organization
The management has a role of ensuring that all its workers are involved and informed on the company procedures (Omanović, 2009). Popularizing the policy and the rationale behind the policy in the organization and for the people seeking to be employed in the company is essential to help avoid a similar situation from happening (Mihailovic, Cvijanovic & Simonovic, 2015). To seal the loopholes of negativity and blame games, we; the management, decide to ask the people that conducted the process to give testimony of the credibility of the procedure. So, we decided to explain the whole process with the involved persons attesting to the explanations given. Further, we resolved that the policy should be presented in all adverts that the company makes to avoid a repeat of a similar case. My dilemma was taken as a learning experience to the organization to help improve the existing policy.
References
Bacon, N. & Hoque, K. (2005). HRM in the SME sector: Valuable employees and coercive networks. The International Journal of Human Resource Get research paper samples and course-specific study resources under homework for you course hero writing service – Manage ment, 16 (11): 1976-1999.
Baker, S. D. & Comer, D. R. (2011). “Business Ethics Everywhere”: An Experiential Exercise to Develop Students’ Ability to Identify and Respond to Ethical Issues in Business. Journal of Get research paper samples and course-specific study resources under homework for you course hero writing service – Manage ment Education, 36(2).
Boatright, R. & John. (1998). Ethics and the Role of the Get research paper samples and course-specific study resources under homework for you course hero writing service – Manage r. Journal of Business Ethics, 7, 303-31.
DeVaro, J. (2008). The labour market effects of employer recruitment choice. European Economic Review, 52 (2), 283–314.
Ford, R. & McLaughlin, F. (1985). “Nepotism”. Personnel Journal, 64(9), 57–60.
Fu, I. (2015). Favoritism: Ethical Dilemmas Viewed Through Multiple Paradigms. The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 8(1). Retrieved from https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=jvbl
Ichniowski, C., Shaw, K. & Prennushi, G. (1999). The effects of human resource management practices on productivity: a study of steel finishing lines. American Economic Review, 87(3). 291-313.
Mihailović, B. & Cvijanović, D. (2013): “Ethical challenges in modern business”, The 5th International Scientific Conference: Moral effects of the economy and economic effects of morality, 106-117.
Mihailovic, B., Cvijanovic, D., & Simonovic, Z. (2015). Role of business ethics in management of human resources. Ekonomika, 61(1), 85-96. doi: 10.5937/ekonomika1501085m
Omanović, V. (2009). Diversity and its management as a dialectical process: Encountering Sweden and the USA. Scandinavian journal of management, 25, 352-362.
Raiborn, C. A., & Dinah, P. (1990). Corporate Codes of Conduct: A Collective Conscience and Continuum. Journal of Business Ethics, 9, 879-889.
Robinson, D. A. (2005). Resolving dilemmas in closely-held businesses. The International Journal of Coaching in Organizations. 3(2), 22-26.
Sarkar, A. & Kumar, S. (2007). Effective recruitment and selection: An approach towards model building. HRM Review, 7 (7), 15-22.
Schutte, T. F. & Jacobs, L. W. (1968). Business Ethical Dilemmas: An Analysis of Conflict. Journal of Purchasing Banner, 4(4), 23-30.
Sinha, V. & Thaly, P. (2013). A review on changing trend of recruitment practice to enhance the quality of hiring in global organizations. Get research paper samples and course-specific study resources under homework for you course hero writing service – Manage ment, 18(2), 141-156.
Stockall, N., & Dennis, L. (2015). Seven Basic Steps to Solving Ethical Dilemmas in Special Education: A Decision-Making Framework. Education and Treatment of Children, 38(3), 329-344. doi: 10.1353/etc.2015.0015
Teal, E. J. & Carroll, A. B. (1999). Moral reasoning skills: are entrepreneurs different? Journal of Business Ethics, 19, 229-240.
Trevino, Linda, K., & Michael E. (2004). Managing to Be Ethical: Debunking Five Business Ethics Myths. Academy of Get research paper samples and course-specific study resources under homework for you course hero writing service – Manage ment Executive, 18, 69-81.
Unwin, K. (2005). Recruiting knowledge workers. HRM Review, 5(10), 5-9.
Waters, J., Bird, F. B. & Chant, P. D. (1986). Everyday moral issues experienced by managers. Journal of Business Ethics, 5(5), 373-384.
