Ethics Dillemma Vignette

Background and Facts

Case One

A large European bank is now requiring that its employees open a bank account with this bank or face disciplinary action.

Case Two

A 16-year-old has been fired from her office administration position because she used her Facebook page to describe how terrible her job was and how boring she found the work.

Case Three

Computer printer manufacturers usually increase profits by selling printers at low cost and then selling ink cartridges that have high profit levels. Through the use of technology, one seller of printers is now trying to force printer purchasers to buy its own ink cartridges rather than being able to use other cheaper alternatives.

Case Four

Judy Price is a popular talk show radio personality and opinionated commentator on the morning phone-in show of a Toronto radio station. She has been transferred because of concerns over possible bias in her comments and is now assessing her options.

Case Five

For the past few years, the design department of a firm has permitted its employees to use a version of a software program for which it has not paid.

Analysis and Conclusions

Case 1

In this case the bank is violating the principle of individual rights on the part of the employees. An employee should be allowed to deposit their pay cheque to a bank of their choice, this should be a personal decision. They have individual rights and should not be forced to open an account with the bank. It’s also not ethical for the bank to take disciplinary action or limit the employee’s career advancement opportunities with the bank. In this case we concluded that the bank acted in an unethical manner.

Case 2

Ethical principle of individual rights clearing states that one has a right to freedom of speech and expression. The employee did not mention the name of the company, nor did she state anything about the company that would have caused it any harm in a business sense. She might have had low motivational...