Module-6

VI. Questions to ConsiderNow that you have completed this module, consider the following questions and be prepared to discuss them in a conference. This is a small sample of the ethical dilemmas that managers face.

Employees have a right to privacy, but employers also have a right to expect safe, competent behavior from their employees. Should employers be allowed to administer drug tests to their employees? Whose right should take precedence?

It is typical for an employee to sign a waiver that allows the company to administer random drug tests. I would think that an employer who suspects that drug use is inhibiting an employee from doing his work should be allowed to administer a drug test whenever he feels it is needed. There is a difference between someone’s right to privacy and their workplace performance. A company has many rights over its employees and typically the ability to administer drug tests is one of them.

Publicly held corporations have obligations to both shareholders and employees. If money is tight, should a corporation reduce dividends to shareholders or reduce wages to employees?

In my own personal opinion there are two sides to this question. If the employees wages we are talking about reducing are the CEO’s who may be making 300 million dollars in a year then it might be okay to reduce on his salary a bit. However if the salaries in question are those of the everyday worker you will not see good results from this. In the case where you have to reduce someone’s wage you must be able to justify it because if you can’t you will have people quitting or people will start to steal because they feel the company owes them something.

Companies can sell more effectively if they collect information about potential customers such as buying habits, income levels, and lifestyles. People have a right to privacy, but companies also have a right to conduct business. Whose rights are more important?

The right to privacy is a right that you have until you start giving out your information. If you give out your information you make yourself susceptible to having it sold or exploited. You would be surprised what is on the internet about yourself. There is so much information out there available to the public that you never would have expected to be out there. It is the right of the person information to remain private until they give it away. The company can do what they wish with it after that.