The document discusses ethical dilemmas at work, defining them as situations where choices must be made between two morally problematic options. It provides scenarios illustrating such dilemmas, emphasizing personal experiences and the necessity for clear guidelines and responsibilities at both employee and employer levels to prevent and address these dilemmas. The author suggests that collaboration and transparency between employees and employers can significantly reduce the occurrence of ethical dilemmas in the workplace.

1. Ethical
Dilemma
At Work
W H A T I T E N T A I L S .
H O W T O R E S O L V E A N D A V O I D
E T H I C A L D I L E M M A A T W O R K
B Y S U L T A N S C H A U D H R Y

2. “Ethical Dilemmas also known as a moral
dilemmas, are situa6ons in which there is a choice
to be made between two op6ons, neither of which
resolves the sa6a6on in an ethically acceptable
fashion.”
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION FACED
WITH AN ETHICAL DILEMMA AT WORK?
First what is an ethical dilemma?

3. An ethical dilemma can cross our path in many
forms and shapes in our daily lives and
parHcularly at work. Some of you might have
experienced it first hand while some have
witnessed it happen to a colleague of yours.

4. LETS CONSIDER A SCENARIO AS TO HOW AN
ETHICAL DILEMMA CAN ARISE AT WORK

5. Suppose you are working in a team of 10 people on a certain project and
without even noHcing it at the end of the project you are faced with an
ethical dilemma. Within a team of 10 people only 7 worked hard while 3 did
not work hard as the rest. The compleHon of the project was down to 7
people in the team. Now you are faced with an ethical dilemma scenario
here; that do you specify the 3 persons who did not work as hard as those 7
or that all the 10 people in the team get full credit for the compleHon of the
project.
I will discuss in detail later that who would report such an issue and who
would not depending on their personality type. But the best way to avoid
being in such a scenario is to share the workload of the project equally and
each team member is handed specific task with a Hme frame limit. In this
way not only the project will be completed in Hme and with best outcome
but also most importantly you don’t have to go through such a tesHng phase
with your colleagues and create biXerness within the team.

6. “BUT LETS ACCEPT THE REALITY THERE WILL BE
TIMES WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH AN ETHICAL
DILEMMA AT WORK AND NO MATTER WHAT
CHOICE YOU MAKE;
YOU FEEL YOU MADE THE WRONG CHOICE.”

7. The Ethical Dilemma
Trilogy
Lets not ignore that an
ethical dilemma can exit
within ‘you’ as an
employee, between you
and another employee
or between
an employee and
employer.

8. How An Employee Can Behave Unethically
For instance an employee using company phone for making
personal calls, using company printer for personal printouts,
using company business contacts for personal gains by taking
undue advantage of such and other faciliHes can all be
regarded as unethical.

9. How An Employer Can Behave Unethically
An extremely unethical pracHce on part of the employer might be
favori6sm; which is typically more so common in Asian countries.
In such a case an employer may approve a parHcular employee/
person over another regarding promoHon, relocaHon or even
hiring. In this way an employer is neglecHng other deserving or
eligible employee/person.

10. How An Employer Can Behave Unethically
The other extreme form of unethical behavior on part of employer is
sexual harassment; where an employee is sexually harassed by the
employer or on complaint from an employee is not looked into and
denied their legal rights. Many cases of sexual harassment go un-
reported because the vicHm/employee feels they might be picked up on
or as a result treated unfairly by the employer in many ways. Recently
many such cases have resurfaced in high profile companies in Silicon
Valley.

11. My Personal Experience
I will share my personal experience as to grasp a beXer
understanding of the subject and that led me to write
this.
Also in the end I will suggest on how to resolve/avoid
ethical issues at work.

12. I experienced a situaHon long Hme ago in which my professional
responsibility unexpectedly came into conflict with my deepest moral
values. I was caught up in a ‘clash of right & right.’ My Area OperaHons
Manager asked me to visit one of company’s unit in Southampton to
asses the units overall performance and reason for dropping sales.
On the day of my visit the Manager of the Unit was off. During off-peak
Hme only one staff was working in FOH (Front Of House) while I was
doing some paperwork in the back office and the staff member thought I
was out. But I was monitoring her too as I was there to asses different
aspects of the business. I witnessed from the back the staff member ager
receiving money from the customer did not ring the Hll and put the
money in her pocket. I kept a constant watch and she did it twice. Once
other staff members came back from break, I called her in the office and
asked her explanaHon regarding the issue but she denied any
wrongdoing. But ager using some invesHgaHve techniques she agreed to
the wrongdoing.
My Personal Experience

13. My Personal Experience
My main concern was why did she do it other than the
obvious reasons. I dug deep into the maXer and she said
because the Manager of the unit deducts her 2-3 hours every
week in payroll and as a result she gets paid less. She already
complained but no one listens. During that Hme the company
was very Hght on labor cost especially for the units with low
sales. But I did not take her word for it and enquired from
other staff members generally and they were of the opinion
yes it has happened to them too or they are not allowed to
take breaks at Hmes etc. I took her statement about her
wrongdoing with her signatures to cover the company and
told her that the maXer will be looked into with sympathy
but also she could face strict disciplinary acHon.

14. I came back to London and informed the
whole situaHon to the concerned Area
OperaHons Manager of the unit along
with her statement while asking him to
conduct a thorough invesHgaHon so such
an incident does not take place in future
and manager should also be accountable.
When the AOM went to the unit he right
away sacked the staff member and the
manager was not held accountable for
anything. I felt the staff member could
have been given a final wriXen warning
and monitored regularly or at least the
manager could have been held
responsible for his irresponsible acHons.
“No maDer what op6on I would have
chosen, I felt like I have come up short.”
My Personal Experience

15. How To Avoid SituaHons Of Ethical Dilemmas
Or What To Do If Happen To Be In One
I have broken down this into three parts for ease and
beXer understanding at solving such issues; namely
employee level, employer level and how both can
help each other.

16. How To Avoid SituaHons Of Ethical Dilemmas
Or What To Do If Happen To Be In One
As an employee you might have encountered aforemenHoned ethical dilemmas
ogen and the quesHon comes to mind as what to do with it?
It all comes down to your personality type.
If someone has strong moral values and not afraid what others might think of
their acHon; they will tell them right away and report them to their line
manager/supervisor.
1- Employee’s Responsibility

17. How To Avoid SituaHons Of Ethical Dilemmas
Or What To Do If Happen To Be In One
1- Employee’s Responsibility
While some will follow company rule to the leXer and not
take any acHon on their part.
Some will play along and adopt a policy of wait and see.
They will follow what their colleagues do and on their own
will not take any steps.
Last but not least some will not take any acHon and will try to
remain neutral in such maXers.
In fact they are on the look out of every opportunity to gain
loyalty and respect from their line managers/supervisors and
go to any lengths to be in their good books even if they have
to lie.

18. How To Avoid SituaHons Of Ethical Dilemmas
Or What To Do If Happen To Be In One
2- Employer’s Responsibility
First & foremost employee handbooks should have clear guidelines as
what to do in cases of ethical dilemmas and who to report to.
Further employee contracts should contain all such details and clearly
state that that they are protected if they report such cases just to
reassure them.
The HR department conduct regular workshops on issues of ethical
dilemmas where all supervisors, line managers and department heads
are given training on how to spot such issue and how to respond that
best protects the company and also does not put the employee in any
harms way.
Most importantly they are encouraged to get regular feedback from
employees and to be open on such maXers. If the resources allow the HR
department can conduct similar workshops for employees too.

19. How To Avoid SituaHons Of Ethical Dilemmas
Or What To Do If Happen To Be In One
3- Employees & Employers Need To Work Together
If both employees & employers work together in a more open and transparent
manner then such incidents of ethical dilemmas not only can be resolved with
ease but also dramaHcally reduce. First employees need to take responsibility of
their own acHons and if they do then they will not tolerate any unethical acts of
their colleagues.

20. How To Avoid SituaHons Of Ethical Dilemmas
Or What To Do If Happen To Be In One
3- Employees & Employers Need To Work Together
On part of the employer line managers, supervisors and department heads need
to make every employee at home regarding such incidents of this nature. They
can do this by creaHng an environment where employees know if they have a
difference of opinion, report a controversy or a complaint about an ethical
dilemma at work they will not in any way be treated unfairly now and in the
future.