Professional Workplace Dilemma

Professional Workplace Dilemma

The ethical issue experienced is that profit seeking businesses price their goods and services according to the value that people are willing to pay for them. The costs of producing those goods and services are a measure of what society has to surrender to make those things. If what people pay exceeds the cost, society has gained and the business has maximized the value of producing those things. So, profits are a guide to the value that businesses create for society. The people who were involved in this dilemma were the Andi, Robin and Paul. The relationship I have with Robin and Andi is they are the owners of the company. Andi is my supervisor who I report to. Paul is the service manager of the service department in sales and service of water softeners, reverse osmosis, bottle coolers and drinking fountains.

There was a difference in power and authority because I have the least obligation to point my values across this issue over the owners and the service manager. The ethics in question were:

• Identifying key stakeholders and engaging in ongoing dialogue with them;

• Having value statement and key objectives that the business wishes to achieve;

• Quantifying social targets and the extent to which they have been achieved;

• Educating employees and other managers about policies

• Establishing principles and procedures for addressing dilemmas

When society’s values conflict with those of the business realignment is absolutely necessary for long term business survival. There are two key drivers for companies forcing them to act in a socially responsible way and be accountable for their activities and impacts. The first is a moral justification; a recognition of the power of companies and acceptance by them that they have broader responsibilities then simply earning money for shareholders. The second, and more persuasive, is the business justification; it is quite simply in the business’s best interest to operate in line with society’s values. If the business does not adjust it will cease to profit. This was the personal values that were in conflict. The potential outcomes were agreeing on set prices