Ethical_Issues_and_Management

Ethical Issues and Management Paper Lauriena Franks XMGT/216 August 26, 2011 Dean McCullough Ethical Issues and Management Several businesses around the globe depend on managers for a wide variety of skills necessary to successfully operate a business. Successful management depends on one’s ability to make ethical decisions and abide by the laws protecting ethical behavior. Ethical dilemmas occur throughout several aspects of management. Consider the decisions a manager faces when hiring, terminating, evaluating performances, and disciplining employees. Ethical decision-making requires honest, fairness, and consideration for individual dignity. Managers responsible for terminating employees face several challenges surrounding termination laws and ethical decision making. Termination of employee’s occurs for several reasons ranging from an employee’s actions, poor work performance, and employee layoffs. In most organization an employee’s unacceptable actions resulting in termination is referred to as cause (Trevino, Nelson, 2007). In contrast several organizations hire employee’s “at will” meaning the employer or employee can terminate his or her employment with or without reason (Fedorkiw, 2010). When a manager of an organization is faced with terminating an employee several moral and ethical issues arise. The manager must remain honest, fair, follow the code of ethics, and respect the employee’s dignity. Managers must be willing to advise, educate, question, investigate, and act as a positive role model for employees in all situations. Ethical Issues and Management As a manager with the job duty of terminating an employee several morals and ethics must be followed before terminating the employee. Before making the decision to terminate the employee the manager must determine and justify the reason for termination. The manager must remain honest with all parties involved and determine the correct line of discipline. Remaining honest and fair among employees appears vital when deciding to terminate an employee. Managers must consider the code of ethics outlined throughout the organization and enforce the ethics among employees. When considering terminating an employee the manager must consider the organization’s code of ethics and the best interest of the organization he or she represents. In a situation which the manager’s personal morals and ethics vary from the organization’s morals and ethics the manager should follow the organization’s code of ethics. As employees notice management following the code of ethics the likelihood of employees following and understanding the importance of ethics within the organization increases. For instance, if the code of ethics outlines a no tolerance policy for theft and an employee of 10 years is terminated as a result of theft employees realize management will follow the code of ethics and discipline the employees who do not follow the ethics outlined. Without management following the code of ethics and acting as a role model employees will be more likely to disregard the code of ethics throughout the organization. Ethical Issues and Management Manager’s actions play a significant role in the ethics among employees of the organization. The code of ethics outlines the expected ethics throughout the organization. However, without a manager’s actions and social activity appearing ethical employees will be less likely to consider his or her choices and ethical decisions. In all situations terminating an employee is unpleasant for all parties involved. Managers need to consider his or her social actions and ethically responsible management practices. Before terminating an employee a manager needs to investigate the reason for termination and determine if the decision to terminate is acceptable and ethical. Following the decision to terminate managers need to determine a date to terminate the employee. Organizations providing terminated employees with severance or benefits packages need to provide the individual with the benefits offered upon termination. Providing the terminated employee with a counselor provides support for the terminated individual and shows the individual the organization cares about his or her future. Managers should terminate an employee face-to-face in a neutral area as opposed to terminating an employee in his or her office. When a manager is faced with terminating an employee the termination and reason for termination needs remain private. Failure to respect the terminated individuals dignity results in employee believing morals and ethics are not considered or valued throughout the organization. Ethical Issues and Management The manager responsible for terminating the employee needs to remain professional and keep his or her personal feelings aside. Termination often comes down to the best interest of the organization and managers need to consider the organizations termination policies and code of ethics as opposed to his or her personal feelings about the situation. Managers of an organization must remain honest and fair throughout the termination process. Without the ability to remain honest and fair the manager will fall shy of his or her social responsibilities and ethically responsible management practices. Consider the ethical dilemma a manager faces when terminating a friend or individual he or she knows on a personal basis. In past employment experiences managers have acted ethical and unethical throughout the termination process. Managers acting ethically positively affected the employees and complemented the code of ethics throughout the organization well. In other situations managers did not consider any ethics, social responsibilities, or responsible management practices necessary to successfully manage a business. The result of the manager’s lack of ethics, social responsibilities, and responsible management practices negatively affected the organizations ethics, employees, and work atmosphere. Throughout my employment experience several instances of unethical behavior occurred among managers and employees. One particular situation comes to mind when considering the termination of an employee and the ethical behavior of a manager. Ethical Issues and Management The manager of a small business always made time to listen to the employees throughout the business. As a result of only employing a few employees the manager began to know the employees on a personal level. Throughout work and personal experiences the manager became close friends with one of the employees. The manager and employee did not allow the friendship to affect the work environment or job expectations. Suddenly the manager was informed the employee who she had become friends with was to be terminated for stealing goods from the business. The manager discussed the issue in-depth with the owner and employees who witnessed the employee stealing. After reviewing all the facts the manager decided to do what was best for the business and terminate the employee based on the facts gathered from individuals directly involved. Despite the managers personal feelings about terminating a friend the manager understood the importance of acting ethically and terminating the employee. The manager understood stealing was unacceptable and ignoring the act based on personal attachment would decrease employee’s ethics throughout the business. The manager considered what was best for business and put her personal attachment aside. Ethical Issues and Management The manager discussed the situation with the employee and remained professional throughout the termination process. The manager appeared supportive and did not discuss the termination with employees not directly involved in the situation. Throughout the termination process the manager considered the employees dignity and privacy. The manager acted ethically throughout the entire situation resulting in increased business ethics and effective management. Based on the reason for termination and the in-depth investigation and careful consideration the manager did not face legal issues surrounding the termination of the employee. The employee willingly signed the termination papers that clearly stated the reason for termination and agreed upon severance pay. The termination papers released the business of any legal responsibilities associated with the termination. The skills the manager used throughout the termination process made the best of a bad situation. The manager’s ethics provided employees with positive examples as opposed to poor unethical choices that negatively affect the business and work environment. Without the skills necessary for effective management all aspects of the business are negatively affected. Lack of ethics and proper management frequently leaves business susceptible to discrimination and illegal termination law-suits. Ethical Issues and Management Businesses around the globe depend on the skills necessary to effectively manage a business. Effective managers must be prepared to act ethically when faced with challenges requiring ethical decision making. Effective managers must remain honest, fair, communicate with employees, and provide a positive role model for employees in all situations. The social interaction of managers and responsible management practices positively affect the business when managers act in an ethical manner. Effective management increases the likelihood of success, employee ethics, and efficiency of the business. References Fedorkiw, J (2010). Business ethics basics: termination of an employee Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com Trevino, L. & Nelson, K. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (4th ed) Hoboken, NJ Wiley Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu