Ethics 365 Week 5 Paper

The Mysterious Roses

ETH/316

September 4, 2012

The Mysterious Roses

The ethical dilemma presented in The Mysterious Roses game is a potential sexual harassment claim from an employee. I use the word “potential” as there were no clear details linking the events presented. The entire game builds on the assumption that there is a sexual harassment problem. The rights and responsibilities lens and the results lens are used to analyze this scenario, but it is complicated. Even though the game offers a method to help us understand and apply different perspectives for an ethical issue, this example lacks meaning. First, it is based on an assumption and second, today’s workplace has clearly defined steps dictating the proper protocol to follow for any sexual harassment issue. I recommend using another situation that is less common in the workplace, to help us understand the benefits of the lens approach.

This situation occurred in an office setting ending with a request by a female employee asking to speak to her supervisor in confidence about a concern she has. The supervisor is anticipating that the conversation will have something to do with flowers sent anonymously, the increased attentions of a fellow coworker, and the statement by this coworker who is worried about her morale; hence, a potential discussion about sexual harassment. Moving forward in this game requires us to assume that the reason this person is requesting a meeting with her supervisor is that she intends to discuss a sexual harassment concern. The supervisor’s dilemma is can she honor her employees request for confidentiality when this could conflict with the supervisor’s duty to report this issue. To help decide the best option to take, I examined this issue using the rights and responsibilities lens and the results lens provided in this game.

”According to the philosopher Immanuel Kant, duties come in two types: perfect duties and imperfect duties” (Nelson & Miller). Perfect...