U4 A1- Ethics & Enterprize
rtf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Capella University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
4081
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
rtf
Pages
2
Uploaded by AdmiralFieldAntelope3
An ethical dilemma is a problem in the decision-making process between two possible options, neither
of which is acceptable from an ethical perspective. Ethical dilemmas are extremely complicated
challenges that cannot be easily solved. Therefore, the ability to find the optimal solution in such
situations is critical to everyone. On the other hand, a code of ethics for business is the foundation of the
guiding principles, both legal and value-oriented that companies use to keep their moral compass. If an
ethical dilemma arises, the leaders should think about what is legal, what is in the code of ethics and
what is the best for the people involved and the company. This paper will analyze sexual harassment
issues that face a lot of female employees, explain the different methods for resolving the dilemma, and
recommend an appropriate method to address. It will also discuss how sexual harassment corresponds
with larger issues on a regional, national, and global level.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines sexual assault as “any
nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks the
capacity to consent” (U.S. DOJ, OVW 2018). While sexual assault is a criminal offense, the law also
recognizes sexual harassment as a form of employment discrimination. The U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunities Commission (EEOC) states that “unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when this
conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an
individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment” (U.S.
EEOC 2018a).
Analyze and Ethical Dilemma that Needs to be Addressed
Most women face sexual harassment in the form of quid pro quo, where an employer demands sexual
favors in exchange for continued employment benefits like a promotion. On the other hand, a hostile
work environment happens when the employee's face continued unwelcome sexual advances that
ultimately alter their working conditions (Johnson 2016). For example, a bartender at my job had been
going through harassment with her boos for some months now and didn’t say anything out of fare of
loosing her job and how others would view her and what they would say. She was being harassed
because when word broke, he would normally just hang around her work area, when she would try to
get by him, he would just be standing in her walk path where she would have to rub up against him. It
was discovered that he would say unprofessional things to her that made her uncomfortable but out of
fair she didn’t say anything. Seems like other would hear some of the thing he said and would be looking
at her in shock, but no one was brave enough to repot it. This issue had to be addressed because the
employee’s work ethics and quality was declining, and she was called in to the HR office and that when
she broke down and started talking about it. This is a serious issue and because HR is now aware of it, if
it’s not addressed then there could be a lawsuit against the company which can be very costly to the
stakeholders, the company’s reputation could be damaged which could be bad for business. The premise
is supported by Shaw et al. (2018), who argue that severe cases of sexual harassment negatively affect
the stakeholders of any organization. In this context, if the employee is continually harassed, her general
physical and mental health might deteriorate.
Analyze the different methods for resolving the ethical dilemma.
The damaging effects of sexual harassment on businesses and their various stakeholders requires for the
management to institute viable corrective measures to address those issue. If the victim of the sexual
harassment wants informally to resolve the issue, then the leaders must conduct meetings with both
parties to get to a solution because these meeting will allow both parties to express their perspectives. If
the informal complaint mechanism wasn’t successful, the victim should make a written formal complaint
to the human resource manager following the organization's sexual harassment policies and procedures.
The report should outline the events that happened together with supporting evidence and statements
from witnesses (Ross et al., 2019). The leaders will have to then perform a formal investigation into the
sexual harassment complaint by using either an internal or external investigator to make an ethical
decision that is based on a thorough analysis and free from bias. After interviewing both parties and the
witnesses and concluding the sexual harassment, the victim will get the appropriate remedy such as
compensation or formal apology. Changing the duties of the employees mentioned above could help to
remedy the situation. Leaders should be mindful because changing their departments, cutting their rate
of pay or putting them on some type of evaluation program can lessen the sexual harassment issues. In
situations where the employee committing the offensive act is demoted, promotion may be the best way
to remedy the ethical issue. Using this remedy may help improve the company’s reputation to the public.
References
Leonard, K. (2019). How to Resolve Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace. Retrieved from
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/resolve-ethical-dilemmas-workplace-11008.html
Ross, S., Naumann, P., Hinds-Jackson, D. V., & Stokes, L. (2019). Sexual harassment in nursing: ethical
considerations and recommendations. Retrieved from
https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofCont
ents/Vol-24-2019/No1-Jan-2019/Sexual-Harassment-in-Nursing.html
What is an ethical dilemma? (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/ethical-dilemma/
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help