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Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Ethical issues in the workplace usually occur when an individual faces a moral dilemma that
needs to be resolved within a corporation. One ethical dilemma I faced a month ago was I observed
suspicious behavior from a colleague engaging in fraudulent activities, including manipulating financial
records and mishandling financial transactions for personal gain. I also found evidence confirming that
the colleague was embezzling company funds. This information made me have an ethical dilemma of
whether to report to the responsible person or turn a blind eye to the situation.
I was hesitant to take up the issue with our supervisors due to fear of potential consequences
such as the employee's job termination, retaliation from the colleague, or strained working relationships
with other colleagues. However, on the other hand, failure to report the incident would have also had
adverse effects on the company and its stakeholders. For instance, embezzlement could lead to financial
loss or damage to the company's reputation.
To address my ethical issue, I brought up the issue with my immediate supervisor, who I believed
would effectively handle the situation. I chose my supervisor because he was in a position of authority
and was tasked with ensuring the integrity of the company's financial operations. Before speaking with
my supervisor, I obtained sufficient information and evidence to support my claims and ensure my
concerns were well-founded.
One of the steps I took to protect myself once I decided to speak up about the unethical
situation was documenting all the evidence I gathered, including specific incidents of suspicious behavior
and the date and time they happened. Recording this information and keeping copies is a safeguard in
case any disputes and repercussions result from the disclosure (Gallo).
After analyzing the possible consequences for all possible decisions, I would have made in this
case, taking up the embezzlement issue with my supervisor was the right course of action. The positive
effects of this decision outweighed the possible negative repercussions. Moreover, the decision is
aligned with the company's policies and procedures for handling ethical concerns and ensures that the
appropriate authorities address the issue (Bogaev). Furthermore, other courses of action, such as
ignoring the issue or confronting my colleague directly, are less appealing because they could potentially
create further damage or fail to address the situation effectively.
