Too Close for Comfort

Too Close For Comfort

In this case study, the ethical dilemma is “individual versus community.” Debra Borchert is bothered by Jerry who is a developmentally delayed. He is following her and bumping into her and making her feel uncomfortable. Debra’s difficult decision is whether or not to tell the manager Jerry is bothering her, risking getting him fired, and also risking the store not hiring anymore mentally challenged kids. Jerry also might not get hired anywhere else; the job at the grocery store was a good one for him. Debra’s brothers were very similar to Jerry, and she wished they could be able to have jobs just like Jerry so that is another reason why she didn’t want to complain. On the other hand it would be a good idea to tell the manager something because she feels uncomfortable, and she should think about herself before being concerned with what is going to happen to Jerry.

An example in the case study where Debra feels like she wants to tell the manager that she is bothered by Jerry is when he is following her, stepping on her foot in line, and bumping in to her. She knows he is challenged and probably doesn’t mean any harm, but she feels she has no choice but to say something.

Another example of when she feels like she should tell the manager is later on the case study when she feels like Jerry forgot about her; however he comes over from a different register just to help her with her bags. To keep away from him she used the cart as a border