Question

You are provided with an ethical dilemma (below). You need to determine a course of action using Kidder's ethical decision-making framework. Using Kidder’s steps for making ethical decisions: - identify potential ethical dilemmas/considerations resulting from your recommendations. - Set-out and evaluate potential alternative courses of action to resolve the ethical issue - Determine a course of action

Ethical Dilemma

You have been the Manager at Sunshine Child Care for 5 years now and although it is a busy role, you thoroughly enjoy working with children and the wonderful educators at the centre. The centre has facilities to look after small babies (i.e., newborn) right up to 5-year old’s in kindy. The centre is open from 6.30am until 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and recently, at the request of parents who needed childcare over the weekends (usually so they could work their weekend jobs), the centre has started opening a few rooms up on Saturdays from 8am – 2pm. The centre caters for approximately 300 children, with 50 educators (staff who look after the children) as well as additional staff who perform the administrative, cleaning and cooking duties. Whilst about 10% of the staff are either full-time or part-time permanent workers, most of the educators are casual workers. Permanent staff work only Monday to Friday (usually between the hours of 8am – 5pm), whereas casual staff can work any day or time.

Due to the weekend penalties, any casual educator who works a Saturday shift is eligible to be paid twice the rate that would usually be paid on a Monday-Friday shift. This has caused some tension amongst staff. Some staff are worried that only the ‘favourites’ of management will be picked for the Saturday shifts, and other staff are concerned that some casuals will try and ‘game’ the system by limiting their availability during the week so that they can work the more coveted Saturday shifts.

In response to the concerns by staff and to make things fair you have designed some rules around how the rostering for those highly desired Saturday shifts would be shared 6 MGB200T1.202 amongst the casual staff. Your plan ensures that over the course of 1 month, every casual employee will have the opportunity to work at least 2 Saturday shifts. This means that everyone gets an equal share of earning the Saturday rates, and should eliminate any perception of bias or favouritism. Your plan was well received by staff and seems to be working as intended – staff are happy, the rostering for the Saturdays is being evenly spread and not impacting the scheduling for the Monday-Friday shifts.

About 1 month into the implementation of your rostering rules, one of your best casual workers, Sharon, has knocked on your door asking for a chat. As she sits down and you close your door, you see that she is very upset and looks quite tired. Sharon explains that recently her husband Tony had to abruptly stop working due to some health issues. She has been working her usual hours during the week but would like to work a regular weekly Saturday shift as well. Sharon says to you that she would not usually ask for special treatment, but she really needs the extra income. She is very stressed about how she is going to pay for Tony’s health care as well as their living expenses now that he is not working. Sharon’s sister has been helping look after Tony during the week when Sharon is at work but given that Sharon’s sister also works it is not possible for Sharon to take on any additional shifts Monday-Friday. Sharon’s sister does not work on Saturdays which means that she could look after Tony so that Sharon can work at the centre. You really like Sharon and she is one of your best workers – loved by children and staff. You would love to help her out, but you are concerned about what the implications would be if you said yes to her request. What do you say to Sharon?

Answer 1

Kidder's ethical decision making framework Suggests that decision making is core to any course of action. Ethical decision making focuses on what is morally justified and fair . Kidder's ethical decision making model resolves dilemmas for ethical living.

checkpoints

1. Awareness - Recognize what the problem is
2. Actor - Recognize who are the people involved
3. Facts - Gather all the important facts and information
4. Right versus wrong- Identify what is right and what is wrong
5. Right versus right-determine all the paradigms
6. Resolutions - Apply all the ethical principles and perspectives
7. Trilemna -look for any third way
8. Decision-implement a decision
9. Reflection-revisit and re-look for the decision implemented

In This case study Being a manager of Sunshine child care I have to decide in the Sharon's case by using Kidder's decision making dilemma

Firstly I will identify the problem that is Sharon cannot work from Monday to Friday in additional shift whereas she can work on Saturday as her sister can look after Tony that means the problem is favoritism for her on Saturday.I will Gather information on how I can help Sharon.

Next step is to identify  what is right and what is wrong .Giving Sharon the Saturday shift will be a biased decision in the eyes of others as Saturday shift implies paying double as comparitive to Monday - Friday shift .That may also raise a rebellion from others.What is right for Sharon might turn wrong for others.

Now what time is to apply all the ethical perspective and principles in this case.Ethically it is right to help Sharon because she has been working for so long and she is liked by children.Treating her as an important member for what services done by her towards child care center, I should help her and support her in the time of emergency.

I'll try to figure out a third way.I asked for the opinion from all the other members and ask for help. If majority people support the decision then we could adjust her in Saturday shift and if majority does not support the decision then I could advise her to work from Monday to Friday in additional shift and could appoint a caretaker for Tony or can bring along tony with her.

After finalizing for the decision I have to recheck my decision and can ask from random employee check what other employees are feeling for the decision. If there is a rebellion or any negative vibe I can revoke this decision.

SUMMARY

Kidder's ethical decision making model suggests for taking decisions in ethical n morally justified manner.