Question

Relate a situation where you know of an unethical situation going on at work or at home that you are concerned about. It might be something that you cannot become directly involved in, but that you know about. Tell as much as you can, but again, it is confidential, and no one except the Professor will see it.

Answer 1

Ethical behavior, simply put, is doing the right thing. Unethical behavior is the reverse. In the workplace, unethical behavior certainly includes any deeds that violate the law, such as theft or violence. But unethical behavior can involve much broader areas as well, such as deliberate violations of company policies, or using hard-sell sales practices that may be legal, strictly speaking, but that take excessive advantage of human frailties. Examples of unethical behavior can be found in all types of businesses and in many different areas.

My sales manager calls you into his office and threatens to fire me unless I sell 50 large toasters. I know the large toasters are inferior products and have been selling the small toasters to my customers, instead. To keep my job, I must violate my conscience and recommend that customers buy the large toasters. My boss is engaging in unethical behavior by forcing me to do something I know is wrong, and also risking the ire and potential loss of valuable customers to meet a product sales goal.

He may be engaging in unethical conduct because top management has forced him by threatening his job, too. Coercion is also the basis for workplace sexual harassment and results in lawsuits. Unethical behavior often causes more unethical behavior.