BUMG 2202 Business Ethics

Topic Week 2 (Tutorial 1)

AN ETHICAL DILEMMA*
After Megan Jones finished her BS degree in Management employee goes through the GPS located in the company
at The University of Rhode Island, she landed a great job car.”
with the “app” developing company Global App Creations Megan felt uneasy. “Jeremy, is what they are doing
(GAC). In her six months of training in Human Resources legal? Can they track and monitor our every move and
(HR) she faced challenges but enjoyed working with people conversation?”
and solving their problems. Jeremy shrugged. “As far as I know it’s legal, but
On Monday morning Megan’s boss, Debbie, placed a I’ve never looked into the actual laws. I don’t know why a
20-inch-thick personnel folder on her desk. “Megan, I want company should track my personal time outside the office.
you to review these files and by Friday start the process of But what are we supposed to do about it? We all need a job,
finding possible ethics violations. Some employees know and each one comes with a price.”
this is coming, while others don’t have a clue. It’s your job On Thursday Megan met with Debbie and expressed
to write them up for ethics violations and suggest whether her concerns about the information GAC collects through
you think some of them should go to legal as well. I will the employee tracking activities. After she finished, Debbie
add my write-up to each one so you won’t be the only responded. “Don’t be so naive, Megan. You know as well as
one making the decisions. For now, I’ll make the primary I do what employees do outside of work could legally hurt
decisions, but sooner or later you’ll be in charge of these the company. It’s also necessary to make sure employees
tasks. If you have any questions, just stop by and we can aren’t sharing confidential information with rivals. This is a
talk.” competitive industry.”
That afternoon Megan began going through the “But what about this employee using the company
files. Some were straightforward involving theft of office car to visit his daughter in the hospital? It was outside work
supplies, inappropriate remarks, and tardiness. GAC’s hours and I heard his daughter is sick. What about an
code was straightforward on such matters. Yet other events individual’s right to privacy concerning medical records?”
appeared confusing. One salesperson was getting an official Debbie brushed her concerns aside. “We don’t have
reprimand for using a company car for personal activities. access to anybody’s medical records. We got this from
This didn’t make sense because all the salespeople drove the GPS device in the company-owned car issued to him.
company cars they took home after work. According to We can’t make exceptions for these types of things. Our
the file, the person visited a hospital 10 miles away every reputation for ethics is excellent.”
evening for the past month. Megan realized every GAC car Then Debbie said, “I hope you haven’t spoken
was equipped with a GPS device. While she didn’t think it to anyone about these cases because that violates
was illegal for companies to install tracking devices on items confidentiality. Your job is to review the files and suggest
they owned, she heard having information about health or appropriate action. All files and communications about the
religion could become the basis of a lawsuit if the person’s files are confidential.”
employment was terminated.
The most shocking file Megan reviewed was that QUESTIONS EXERCISES |
of another employee being fired for sharing confidential 1. If tracking employees through technology is not illegal,
information with a competitor. The file contained reports why should Megan be concerned if she is not involved in
on computer activity, cell phone usage, GPS tracking, any misconduct?
and included audio and video of personal conversations, 2. At this point, what are Megan’s alternatives to resolve her
dinners, and hotel rooms. On Tuesday Megan went to current dilemma about her involvement and knowledge
Jeremy, who worked for the company for several years, about GAC’s tracking of employees?
and asked him if he knew of employee tracking at the 3. Who should have a stake or an interest in how GAC
company. tracks and monitors its employees?
Jeremy responded, “Well, I have heard rumors
that managers want to keep track of employees and
monitor whether they share confidential information with *This case is strictly hypothetical; any resemblance to real persons, compa-
competitors. I’ve also heard they monitor where each nies, or situations is coincidental.

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