Moral Choices Facing Employees

OBLIGATIONS TO THE FIRM

to what extent do you think people should be loyal to their company?

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

• "In and organization, a conflict of interest arises when employees at any level have special or private interests that are substantial enough to interfere with their job duties."
• "To have a conflict of interest is to be in a morally risky situation..."

ABUSE OF OFFICIAL POSITION

(UBS)' STORY

BRIBES AND KICKBACKS

• Remuneration for an act that is inconsistent with the nature of the work.
• FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act)
• USA disadvantage?

GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

OBLIGATIONS TO THIRD PARTIES

• Ethic and moral responsibilities
• Welfare of the organization or loyalty to co-workers
• Obligation to community, society, economy...

WHAT IS WHISTLE-BLOWING?

• Employee’s informing the public about the illegal or immoral behavior of an employer or an organization.
• Something that can be done only by a member of an organization.
• Expose activities that are harmful , immoral, or contrary to the public interest or to the legitimate goals and purposes of the organization.

WHAT MOTIVATES WHISTLE-BLOWERS?

• a sense of professional responsibility.
• They usually said: “I am not a hero, I was just doing my job”
• They do it because of the wellness organization and because of the people being affected by the action of someone or the entire organization.

WHEN IS WHISTLE-BLOWING JUSTIFIED?

• It is done from an appropriate moral motive
• The whistle-blower, except in special circumstances , has exhausted all internal channels for dissent before going public
• The whistle-blower has compelling evidence that wrongful actions have been ordered or have occurred.

Untitled Slide

• The whistle-blower has acted after careful analysis of the danger: how serious is the moral violation? How immediate is the problem? Can the whistle-blower point to specific misconduct?
• The whistle-blowing has some chance of success

Self-Interest and Moral obligation

• Self-Interest is sometimes understandable over moral obligation
• Black listed from the industry
• Prudential and moral reasons