College Courses Prepare Students for Ethical Issues at Work

In a time of polarizing workplace issues, professors are asking students to consider their moral and ethical obligations on the job beyond the bottom line ("Business Schools Now Teaching #MeToo, N.F.L. Protests and Trump." The New York Times, December 25, 2017). "Students have said ethical issues, not finances, are a business’s most important responsibility, according to a survey of business school students worldwide conducted by a United Nations group and Macquarie University in Australia."

Discussion Questions:

1. Although a campus discussion of ethical and moral responsibility at work can be useful, how does a recent college graduate face corporate culture that condones discriminatory behavior?
2. If you have experienced unethical actions at work, how did you handle the situation? Was the outcome fair to all parties affected?
3. If a student in college does not already possess a moral compass of right and wrong, can a college class positively change his/her perceptions and actions? Why or why not?

Dealing with Unethical Situations at Work

Learn how to handle a directive to engage in unethical behavior on the job with these practical suggestions ("When the Boss Wants You to Do Something Unethical," The New York Times, July 6, 2017). Get clarification from your supervisor to make sure you understood what is being asked of you. Research the situation to decide if the potential action goes against company policy. Determine the consequences of compromising your integrity to save your job before you bring your concerns about your boss to another person or group overseeing your boss. This article provides more great options should you encounter such situations at work.

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you think the article provided useful strategies for employees who have been asked to do something unethical at work? Why or why not?
2. Have you faced such a request to do something you thought was dishonest? Did you decide to stay on the job or resign?
3. Do you think it is important for a company to have a code of ethics, so employees know what is expected of them on the job? Why or why not?
4. Do you think companies that place an emphasis on maintaining an ethical workplace are more profitable? Why or why not?

Air Force Test Cheating at Nuclear Missile Base

Discovery of test questions and answers being text messaged caused the firing of nine mid-level officers and lesser punishment for junior officers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana ("U.S. Air Force Fires Nine Officers Following Nuclear Test Cheating Probe," Washington Post, March 27, 2014).

The individuals who were fired did not take part in the cheating, but fostered a climate where it was considered acceptable according to the Air Force. The cheating scandal erupted as a result of an "unreasonable drive for perfection rather than an ill-trained force," according to a professor at the Air Force Research Institute who documented the problem. The unethical behavior seemed to be a commonplace occurrence (based on the Air Force reporting) on competency exams among personnel who "saw perfect scores as their only chance for promotion and career advancement."

Discussion Questions:

1. Apparently, cheating of this type was not found at other Air Force bases, but does this scandal make you wonder about the possibility of unethical behavior being condoned elsewhere in the Air Force?
2. In the article, there is a comment from the Air Force that states, "the cheating should not call into question the readiness of the team at Malmstrom, which oversees intercontinental ballistic missiles." Does this statement make you wonder why would Air Force personnel be interested in cheating if they felt confident about their job skills?
3. If you were working with someone you heard was cheating on these types of tests, would you feel confident that you could trust them to perform their job well?

Survey Finds on the Job Ethics Improving Possibly Due to a Slow Economy

Businesses seem to be promoting ethical behavior on the job, but less than robust economic conditions may provide a stronger incentive for good employee conduct, according to a recent survey ("Workplace Ethics Increasing, Perhaps Because of the Recession, but Misconduct on the Job Still High, Survey Finds," Cleveland.com (Cleveland Plain Dealer), February 10, 2014).

The 19th National Business Ethics Survey from the Ethics Resource Center (ERC) using "6420 responses from employees in the for-profit sector" found that retaliation for reporting misconduct was still a concern even though it saw a slight decline. Yet, there was an increase in employee reporting of unethical behavior on the job. However, the ERC President mentioned that if a stronger economy returns, more employees may be tempted to engage in unauthorized practices to increase the bottom line for themselves and their employers.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do people you know act ethically on the job and in their personal lives? Why or why not?
2. Would you report misconduct that you observed in your workplace even if you might face retaliation?
3. Have you ever worked for an unethical supervisor? If so, how did his or her behavior affect you?

Bachelor's Degree to Get Higher Pay Deemed Fraudulent

In hopes of getting a promotion and raise, a sheriff's officer in Volusia County, Florida directed other staff members to help him complete projects ("Volusia Sheriff's Lieutenant Demoted over College Course Cheating," The Daytona-Beach News-Journal, February 24, 2012). Brodie Hughes faced nine other work-related job-performance infractions in the past, but his most recent lapse in ethical judgment caused a demotion to deputy and a pay cut. Three sheriff's office employees submitted homework and papers in his name while on duty. Those staff members will avoid punishment since they were following orders of their supervisor.

Discussion Questions:

1. The demoted employee is still on the job according to the news article. How do you think you might feel about him continuing to work for the sheriff's office if you were one of the staff members that did his work? What if you were a deputy working with him? Would you be able to trust him to do his job, given his most recent job-related infraction?
2. This situation came to light when someone sent an anonymous letter to the sheriff's office outlining the unethical behavior of the former officer. Would you have the courage to speak up about this problem if you worked for the sheriff's office and knew what was happening? Would you worry that you might lose your job or face backlash from the officer if someone discovered you wrote the  anonymous note? Why or why not?
3. Take a look at the Volusia County Sheriff's Office Mission Statement at http://volusia.org/sheriff/mission.htm. There is a sentence that states, "The foundation of this organization is defined by its employee's honesty, moral standards, compassion, sincerity, and caring attitude." Is this organization going against it's stated mission by allowing this deputy to continue working for the office? Why or why not?

Employee Qualities Desired by IT Management

Computerworld magazine from November 10, 2008 cites ethics and morals as the top traits sought by information technology leaders based on an online survey by the Society for Information Management-SIM ("SIM Survey: Ethics, Morals Top Workplace-Skills Wish Lists of IT Execs"). "Gauging the moral fiber of job applicants" is a key aspect of the Dannon Co. hiring process according to Mike Close, chief technology officer. Jerry Luftman, a professor at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. and SIM's vice president of academic affairs noted that "circumventing security systems" and other misdeeds by technology employees has spurred the increased interest in assessing the ethical attitudes of new hires.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is it possible to determine a prospective employee's moral compass in a brief interview?
2. Is it most important that a company's administration exhibits ethical behavior to demonstrate what is expected of all employees?
3. Should all companies use and enforce a code of ethics so employees know what actions are acceptable and the consequences for not following the code?

Ethical Considerations When You Have 2 or More Jobs

The Vancouver (BC) Sun highlights the issue of working for more than one employer in its September 20, 2008 issue ("Career Hazards Are Hiding in the Moonlight"). The problems usually surface when you hold 2 or more different jobs with employers in the same or related line of business. You may inadvertently disclose proprietary information to the other employer or one employer may believe you are doing work "on behalf" of the other company. The best policy is to be honest about your work situation with both employers.

Discussion Questions:

1. Should employers prevent their workers from taking a second job in a related industry?
2. Do you think it would be difficult to keep company secrets from being disclosed to another employer in a related industry?
3. If your second job is in an unrelated field, does your other employer need to know about it?
4. What are other concerns related to taking a second or third job to make extra money?