Question

You are an assistant Human Resource Manager at Company X. You have had this job for two years, and you love it. You have a great opportunity to become the manager within the year as your immediate boss is nearing retirement. One day, the president of the company comes by your desk to ask you for “a favour”. He has just hired a “rock star” CEO and wants you to enroll her in the company benefits program right away and waive the required 6 months probationary period. He really wants to make a good impression with her and roll out the red carpet. The policy is that all employees must wait 6 months before enrolling in any company benefits program. You are well aware of the policy because when you were first hired, you needed new glasses and had to wait 6 months for coverage even though you had asked for a waiver. What do you do? Explain your decision using the four ethical decision-making criteria discussed in class and in your textbook.

Answer 1

The perspective of the subject, in this case, based on 4 ethical decision-making criteria is as follows:

· Decision based on Utilitarianism principle: This principle suggests that the choice of final decision must be made in a way that it brings the good for a greater number of people. Waiving the 6 months probationary period, just to please the new CEO, will not be the right thing to do as it will affect the rights of the overall employees of the organization. The employees may feel discriminated and the fundamental of greater good will be impacted. Hence the HRM needs to pitch against the waiver and come up with other interventions to make the CEO feel inclusive and special.

· Decision based on Individualism approach: As per the individualism approach, an action can be considered moral and ethical if it is suiting the long term goals and orientations of the individual, who may then work hard for facilitating the greater good. The waiver of 6 months probationary period will be justified in this approach as this action will make the CEO happy and inclusive. The CEO will be motivated to facilitate the overall business of the organization, thus facilitating the greater good.

· Decision based on Moral Rights approach: As per the moral rights approach, a decision is considered ethical if it is in alignment with the rights and duties of others. Waiving the probationary period, just for the CEO, is affecting the moral rights of the overall organization. Hence it cannot be considered to be an ethical action.

· Decision based on Justice framework: This principle projects actions which illustrate fairness and equality. The decision must be impartial for all and must propagate the notion of equality. By waiving off the probationary period, the CEO is being differentiated from the rest of the company and is being given extra privileges. The employees may feel the company is biased to the CEO. Hence the decision of waiving the probationary period off, is not justified.

As we can see that 3 out of the 4 ethical frameworks, are against the decision of waiving off the probationary period for the CEO. Hence the HRM is required to pitch against the decision. Instead he can propose different interventions which can make the new CEO welcomed by the company.

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