2. INTRODUCTION
It is important for companies and managers to hold
employees to a high standard.
There are many ethical dilemmas that arise in the business
world. It seems to be a common theme as people look to get
ahead in the world today.
Here I am going to describe an ethical dilemma that I
experienced first hand in the organization that I currently
work in.
Here is a video that describes some good ethical dilemmas
and the best way to handle them. This can be viewed as an
introduction to some ethical dilemmas that we may face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgBmV6PeK0Q
3. INTRODUCTION TO WORK ENVIRONMENT
I work for a company involved in the oil field.
This company is a hot oil business. Our employees drive
trucks to oil tanks and wells and service them so that the oil
can be sold, or so the wells can produce more oil.
This is a smaller organization, and there are currently 7
employees that individually operate 7 hot oil trucks.
Our company is spread out across over a 100 mile radius, so
this makes it sometimes dif ficult to get things like fuel and
chemicals to our employees so they can maintain work.
4. DILEMMA
As it is sometimes dif ficult for our employees to get fuel, the
owner and manager of the business decided to place a diesel
fuel tank near the home of one of our more distant
employees. This made fuel costs cheaper, and gave easier
access and more work time for the employee.
After several months, the employee bought a diesel pickup,
and we noticed an increase of fuel needing to be delivered to
that certain tank.
It is easy to identify the dilemma from here as it had
appeared the employee was using company fuel, meant for his
work truck, in his personal vehicle.
5. PROPERLY ASSESSING DILEMMA
Before jumping to conclusions, it is important to assure that
there is, in fact, a problem.
There was an increase in the amount of fuel needing to be
delivered to that certain tank. This raised the first flag, and
showed that further assessment would be needed.
Cameras were placed on the fuel tank without the employees
knowledge. This allowed the manager to discover exactly why
more fuel was being needed at that location.
It turns out that the employee was not only using fuel for his
personal vehicle, but was also fueling up the pickup of one of
his friends.
6. REACTION TO ASSESSMENT
The fuel tank that was placed near the employee’s home was
promptly removed.
The employee at the time was given a warning. No more
issues should arise with him or it would mean termination
from his job. This was a lenient punishment, but since the
source of the problem was removed the manager felt that the
employee was valuable enough to keep on the work staf f.
Unfortunately more issues did arise with the employee. He
missed a days work and was late on several occasions, which
may have been forgiven had he not had this black mark on his
record already.
The employee was terminated.
7. ACTIONS TAKEN TO PREVENT DILEMMA
FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE
No longer were employees allowed to have diesel tanks placed
on their properties. The manager felt this created too much
temptation for the employees.
The employees were given gas cards instead. They had to
match up the fuel they used with their mileage sheets. This
allowed management to properly assess how much fuel was
being used to insure this problem would not happen again
with another employee.
The secretary is now responsible for monitoring fuel
statements, and matching these statements up with the fuel
usage reports.
8. CONCLUSION
It is important to behave ethically while at work.
Here is a prime example of an unethical situation, the actions
used to assess the situation, and the reaction of the manager
to the situation.
Not only is it important that we behave ethically in the work
place, but it is also important for us to behave ethically in all
social functions.
This video is a good summary on ethics, and how they relate
to business and society in our every day lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDfTC5xjdY
Remember to always behave ethically, or it could cost you
your job.
