Interpersonal Ethical Dilemmas in Organizations
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Apr 3, 2024
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Interpersonal Ethical Dilemmas in Organizations
Sonja Chappell
Grand Canyon University
COM-500-O500
Dr. Tj Zito
February 21,2024
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Interpersonal Ethical Dilemmas in Organizations
Actions speak louder than words. They always have. For centuries women have been the target of sexual harassment, inappropriate language, and overall vicious behavior. In the workplace sexual harassment is an ongoing issue. Sexual harassment is described as unwanted and unwarranted verbal or physical behavior directed towards a person in a sexual way. The show Undercover Boss uncovered a workplace that was experiencing just this. However due to the unique circumstances of this company, many are led to believe that this treatment is okay. The show Undercover Boss shows CEOs of major corporations that go undercover as a new employee to understand the dynamics of their company, customers, and the work performance their employees give. This paper focuses on the Hooters episode. CEO, Coby Brooks, joins a Dallas crew as a cook. He wants to form a better understanding of his organization at the ground level. The ethical issue throughout this episode focuses on the Hooters
Girls and how they are treated by management. At one point in this episode, they are challenged to eat a hot plate of food with their hands behind their back to determine which girl gets the day off. The manager even goes as far as shoving the faces of the girls, who do not want to participate, in the hot plates of beans. He then tells the line cooks this is the only way to make the
girls more submissive and understand their work. In another, the general manager is seen lining up girls to approve of their appearances before they are allowed to start a shift. This is normal across most Hooters because of their dress code enforcement. However, in this episode, the manager criticizes every aspect of the girls’ appearances very rudely. This rubs the CEO the wrong way. The other issues that were brought up in this show had to do with the public’s reaction. When Cody joined a few of the girls into town to pass out promotional flyers he noticed
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many women passing by. He witnessed many not even glance over even when spoken to. When Cody comforted a passer byer about this her answer was simple. Hooters exploits women. She felt that the company’s entire brand is directed towards men and by men. Even though Cody insists this company is a family restaurant. Toward the end of the episode, Cody confronts the general manager about their unfair, sexist, and sexual treatment of their female employees. This behavior affects the women daily, many feel pushed and pressed to perform and others feel like cattle at an auction. Many questions about ethics are raised. Are the manager's actions towards these women ethical? Do they qualify as sexual harassment or unethical treatment or is this just part of the job they signed up for?
Ethics refers to a set of behaviors that a person must act upon in any given situation. Ethics is not based on feelings but rather on what you deem right and wrong (Velasquez). The ethical elements of this particular case were as follows: sexual harassment and unethical treatment towards employees. Just because a Hooters girl signs up for a job where they are required the wear a tight-fitting outfit does not warrant the harassment. These women have the fundamental right to be treated like all other employees. They are people and should be treated as
such not as an object for men. According to Gonzalez and Brazeal, the justice approach was used
to help these girls in this unethical situation (Gonzalez).
In the show, a meeting was held with the Hooters girls and Cody (CEO). They talked about the treat they received and how the lineups made them feel. Cody then decides to have a conversation with the general manager to figure out why he feels this kind of treatment is necessary and the see if he will ever be up to the idea of new management styles. This conversation ended with the general manager making a formal apology to all his staff members and a huge change in his management style. In the end, all that happens is this manager is given
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a slap on the wrist and a verbal warning. There is no real change to the company. It is known that
women are treated poorly throughout the company and the effects this has on the public’s opinion. The CEO’s approach was hushed conversations and meetings with these employees. He asked both parties about their situations and feelings. He sat the manager down and explained to him why a change in management styles was needed. Then Cody (CEO) followed up with the manager and the Hooter’s girls months later to make sure their plan for a change was happening. He then talks about a PR campaign that never gets made to help fix the branding. However, no changes were made to any policies or the branding to make it more family-affiliated like Cody said. This is a very unethical approach. The general manager's actions and harassment deserved consequences if not terminated from his position. In terms of fixing the ethical issues, I do not believe they were handled properly. When it comes to the branding of the company, if the goal is to make it seem family-friendly, like Cody said it was meant to, I believe real change has to be made. To make women more comfortable with this kind of establishment the attitude towards the waitress has to change. Whether that is a change in uniform or a policy change, women are not forced to flirt with every customer like what is highlighted in the handbook. My solution for these unethical injustices towards the treatment of female employees would be something called the Justice approach. The justice approach is described as an idea “that all equals should be treated equally” (Velasquez). This idea
is now seen as how we treat others. Each person is given what they deserve strictly based on facts. In the Hooters case, each party should be examined fairly based on the evidence and each should be given a chance to speak upon their thoughts. The Hooters girls should get their chance to speak about the treatment they have been receiving. The general manager then needs to share
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his side of the story, because we know that there are always two sides. He needs to be examined and dealt with accordingly. This ensures a fair and equal decision can be made. In conclusion, to see a real change in the way women are treated in the workforce, changes will have to be made. Women are not objects and should not be treated as such. Every person no matter gender, race, or status deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. A business-like Hooters would have to make changes to policies, management styles, and branding to fulfill what the CEO Cody wants to accomplish.
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References Gonzalez, C.B., and Brazeal, D.V. (2014). Undercover Boss: A Case Study Of Ethical Dilemmas In The Workplace. Retrieved From: GCU Library. https://eds-p-ebscohost-
com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=2dd7058b-7424-499a-
bbf1-f40a7586c4b8%40redis
. Lambert, S. (2010). Undercover Boss US season 01 episode 02 Hooters. Studio Lambert. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4w4yzb
. Velasquez, M., Moberg, D., Meyer, M., Shanks, T., Mclean, M., DeCosse, D., Andre, C., and Hanson K.O. (2009). A Framework for Thinking Ethically. Santa Clara University. https://honors.umaine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/184/2020/10/A-Framework-for-
Thinking-
Ethically.pdf#:~:text=The%20Fairness%20or%20Justice%20Approach,some
%20standard
%20that%20is%20defensible.
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