Recognizing and dealing with ethical challenges in the work place Iman Abdeshahian Natalie Cook Jenny Morrell

Serving/ covering/lying for the boss When or how, if ever, do you cover for the boss with deception, an untruth of half-truth? If you do not want to cover for your boss, how do you refuse without likely incurring his/her wrath?

Possible solutions Communicate your worries to your boss There is unfair pressure on you from the boss Anyone who asks you to undermine your integrity is not worth working for

Misuse and Abuse of Organizational Funds

False Travel expenses claimed by a colleague: (Setting: Airport) Natalie: Ralph how are you doing? Ralph: Just fine, and you? Natalie: I’m ok you know I don’t care for flying. Ralph: Well then are you also at the Hilton? Natalie: Yes. Ralph: Great then lets share the cab. Natalie: Great. (At end of Cab ride) Ralph: Hey could you pick this up? Natalie: Sure. Natalie suspects that Ralph may expense the ride even though he didn’t pay for it. What should she do?

Scenario 1: Natalie should not go speculate and show a lack of trust in her coworkers. Since she doesn’t really know anything she should not worry about it. A week later Natalie sees a stack of expense reports sitting on a secretary’s desk. One report listed Ralph’s expense for that taxi ride, the ride he didn’t pay for. What should she do? Scenario 2: Natalie should speak to someone in accounting. It would be unethical and poor business if she knew someone was misusing company funds and failed to do anything about it.

Time Sheet Errors: All employees at your organization are required to account for their time on an hour-by-hour basis. One person in each group is responsible for approving all time sheets and this is your responsibility. Jenna: Good morning Iman, how are you today? Iman: Just fine, Jenna. Jenna’s boss is a terrific performer, a hard worker and one of the most important people in the entire organization. Jenna notices that generally her boss leaves early on Fridays and comes in late on Monday mornings. Yet he still accounts for all eight hours everyday on his time sheet. It is up to Jenna to approve or decline his time sheet. What should Jenna do?

Scenario 1: Jenna should talk to her boss. Let him know that she has noticed the errors in his time sheet and tell him that you will approve the time sheet if he agrees to not put her in this ackward position again. Her boss should respect her for being ethical on this. Scenario 2: What should she do if the person was not her boss but a colleague who does not report directly to her? She should not risk her respect in the company and go talk to someone in human resources or who she would need to report to about this.

Make me a copy of that new software program will you? Because of your new computer software skills, you have been put in charge of graphics production and web design for your division. There is a hot new software program on the market, BU-Force8000. The boss approved company funds for you to purchase it. You signed the agreement not to share the software. A person from another division who has been of significant assistance to you and to your division has sent you an asking if he can make a copy of the program for work that his division is doing. What do you say?

I would contact my boss to tell him that the other division could have a copy of the BU-Force8000 for some work they are working on. If they cannot have a copy then I would find out who they need to talk to put in an order for the program.

Using Bootlegged Software: The CEO of my company is really an efficient person and encourages his employees to save company money anyway that they can. In fact there is a bonus program that benefits employees for saving costs. One day I realized that I needed a software upgrade for my computer. The IT person arrives quickly to install a bootlegged copy of the most recent version of Microsoft Office. Natalie: Thanks for coming to upgrade this so quickly. Iman: No problem. Haha (chuckle) Yep, not a bit of the software on your computer is legal. Natalie: Oh really? Iman: The company saves about $150,000 a year by avoiding the full-price on software. If they didn’t so this then it would take years to bring the computers up to speed with the rest of the world. Natalie: And that would hurt our clients. Iman: Exactly. And its not like Microsoft and Bill Gates are missing the money. What should Natalie say or do, if anything?

I would comment to the IT tech that it isn’t right to not pay for the software however, with high competition and the need to serve the clients the best way we can I understand why we use bootlegged software.

Personal relationships – sex and the office

Is it possible to treat everyone equally even if you are in a relationship with a member of staff? Could you fire or punish someone you are in a relationship with?

Love vs. Business A relationship with some at the office will more than likely affect your performance If you are overseeing a group of employees it is definitely not a good idea to date someone below you Keep your personal life separate from your business life

Personal Loyalty vs. Organization Loyalty The best advice: Try not to put yourself in a situation where you have to choose between your friend and your job Politely decline to do personal favors for friends if it might jeopardize your position in the company Keep personal life and work life separate Dean Sherman’s pointers: –Tell the truth –Be honest –Do what you say you will

Giving Deceiving or Misleading Information The Hard Line: Don’t lie for the boss If a senior above you if trying to get you to cover/lie, it’s a sign to look for a new job! Would you be embarrassed if what you saw/did became public news? Don’t just tell the client what they want to hear if its not the truth Consider becoming a whistle blower in serious situations

Words to Live By… Love God Tell the truth Make a profit