Question

-Is it ethical for an employer to require as a condition of employment or use as a consideration for advancement promotion, that an employee participate in organizations apart from the business (ie. community non-profit organizations)? Does the type or nature of the organization make a difference?

Answer 1

Solution -

In almost all organizations the corporate social responsibility for all employees is a voluntary activity and requires employees to participate as per their own accord. For instance assume if one works in the marketing department then for their promotion or career progression of the organization makes it mandatory for them to participate in a corporate social program apart from thei duties then it will not be ethical on the part of the organization. Assume that one has performed exceedingly well by achieving all the targets but has not been able to participate in a CSR program of the organization because if which thebperson is denied their career progression or advancement then it is most unfair.

Now on a different lines if you work in an organization where your core responsibility is to work for the CSRs program for the company then for your career progression the company would expect from you a higher grade performance in such activities. Now here the expectation is completely ethical.

Hence in my opinion if the CSR program is not part of your core activities in an organization then such manadates by the organization are not ethical but in situations where your goals and objectives are based upon the CSR programs of the organization then such expectations are ethical.

There is another condition that if at the time of recruitment the organization has made it clear that participation in a CSR program is a mandate for career progression and then the employee has accepted the offer or job, in sch circumstances also the expectations of the organization will be considered ethical as it was made part of the employee's roles and responsibilities at the start and the employee accepted after understanding all terms and conditions.