Question

Explore and examine the following business fact scenario using each of the three normative ethical approaches (Kantianism, utilitarianism, Native American peacemaking) and ALL the relevant information we studied this semester:

You’re a manager at a non-profit business. One of the people you supervise has been a fundraiser there for five years. Four years ago, their performance was poor because they had been diagnosed with cancer and were undergoing chemotherapy. Since then their performance has improved to average but in the past few months has declined severely again—They’ve raised only half as much money as before. They explain to you that their cancer has recurred and has spread to their lymph nodes, so they’re in the middle of a six-month round of chemotherapy and they’re prognosis is not good. They tell you they prefer to keep working but if you terminate them they won’t file a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They are their family's sole source of income and their nonprofit salary is modest, so they have little in savings. They’re just barely making ends meet. What would be the "ethical" thing for you to do?

Share your IN-DEPTH, DETAILED understanding of what the “ethical” thing to do would be using each of the normative ethical approaches we studied (Kantianism, utilitarianism, Native American peacemaking). Identify and apply the focus, considerations, and processes of each approach to the facts. Express in a specific and detailed step-by-step fashion how you applied each normative ethical approach and what that application revealed (remember, don’t presume an outcome and work backward to support the presumption, instead, apply each approach to the facts to discover what the approach reveals).

Answer 1

Answer:

The situation is that an employee is suffering from cancer and he is at a stage where chemotherapy is required for a period of six month and he is the only earner for his family and need the job to manage his cancer treatment and family survival. But his performance is poor severely due to cancer illness.

The ethical thing for us to do with respect to each of the ethical approaches as below

· Kantianism Ethical Theory: This ethical theory suggest that the action is right or wrong does not depend upon its result but it depends upon fulfilling the moral and our duty as a human being in true sense. Hence as per this ethical theory, I would suggest to allow the employee to manage his job to the extent possible so that he can manage this situation and can come out from this scenario. This will be a right ethical decision as per this Kantianism ethical theory.

· Utilitarianism Ethical Theory: This is the theory which states that the action should maximize happiness and well being for affected people hence with respect to this ethical theory, we should support the employee to the extent possible so that he can manage his job as well as his disease and should not be hold on job despite of his poor performance for the organization.

· Native American Peace making theory: This is the traditional Native American process which helps in resolving the issues and disputes to provide justice to people. Thus based on this approach we would like to provide justice to the employee suffering with cancer and we would like to allow him to continue his job to the extent possible so that he can manage both his job, as well, as his disease along with family.