Case study examples of unethical

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Examples of Unethical Behavior in the

Workplace

by Victoria Duff, Demand Media

Ethics is based on the recognition of certain human rights. An individual has the right not to be

deliberately deceived. He has the right not to be forced to go against his conscience. He has the

right to expect other parties to live up to their commitments and to behave according to the law.

In the workplace, the employer has the right to expect employees to behave according to

company policy.

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Deliberate Deception

Deliberate deception in the workplace includes taking credit for work done by someone else,

calling in sick in order to go to the beach, sabotaging the work of another person and, in sales,

misrepresenting the product or service to get the sale. There are other examples of deliberate

deception, but these show how damaging deception can be by using a person's trust to undermine

his rights and security. In a workplace environment, this results in conflict and retaliation. In a

sales function, it can result in lawsuits from deceived customers.

Violation of Conscience

Your sales manager calls you into his office and threatens to fire you unless you sell 50 large

toasters. You know the large toasters are inferior products and have been selling the small

toasters to your customers, instead. To keep your job, you must violate your conscience and

recommend that your customers buy the large toasters. Your boss is engaging in unethical

behavior by forcing you to do something you 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.

Related Reading: Common Workplace Ethics Violations

Failure to Honor Commitments

Your boss promises you an extra day off if you rush out an important project by a certain date.

You work late hours and finish the project before the deadline. Ready for your day off, you

mention it to your boss who responds "No, we have too much work to do." Your boss engaged in

unethical behavior that has virtually guaranteed your future distrust and unwillingness to extend

yourself to assist in department emergencies. In addition, you are likely to complain to your co-

workers, causing them to distrust the promises of the boss and be unwilling to cooperate with his

requests.

Unlawful Conduct

Padding an expense account with non-business expenses, raiding the supply cabinet to take home

pens and notebooks and passing around unregistered or counterfeit software are examples of

unlawful conduct in the workplace. The person who steals from the company by padding her

expense account or taking supplies for personal use risks losing her job. If a company decides to

overlook such theft on the basis of maintaining employee morale by not firing a popular

employee, other employees will also steal so they can feel they are getting the same deal as their

co-worker. Passing around counterfeit software, if discovered by the manufacturer, can cost the

company through lawsuits and fines.

Disregard of Company Policy

An employer is understandably concerned about avoiding lawsuits and angry customers because

those things negatively affect profitability. Most employers clearly state company policies

against deception, coercion and illegal activities. They also strive to convey an image of

trustworthiness to their customers and employees. Corporate trustworthiness helps retain

customers and valued employees, and the loss of either also negatively affects company

profitability. To disregard company policy is unethical because it has the potential to harm the

company and other employees.

References (3)

 Graziadio School of Management: Creating and Sustaining an Ethical Workplace Culture; Charles

D. Kerns; 2003

 The Center for Association Leadership: Ethics in the Workplace; Joshua Joseph; October 2000

 Stetson University: Identifying, Resolving and Managing Common Ethical Dilemmas in the

Workplace; William A. Andrews; 2000

About the Author

Victoria Duff specializes in entrepreneurial subjects, drawing on her experience as an acclaimed

start-up facilitator, venture catalyst and investor relations manager. Since 1995 she has written

many articles for e-zines and was a regular columnist for "Digital Coast Reporter" and

"Developments Magazine." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in public administration from the

University of California at Berkeley.

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Examples of Unethical Behavior in the Workplace by Victoria Duff, Demand Media Ethics is based on the recognition of certain human rights. An individual has the right not to be deliberately deceived. He has the right not to be forced to go against his conscience. He has the right to expect other parties to live up to their commitments and to behave according to the law. In the workplace, the employer has the right to expect employees to behave according to company policy. Ads by Google 4RF - SCADA solutions High Capacity, Long Range & Secure Radios for SCADA and Telemetry. www.4rf.com/PTMP_SCADA_Soultions Deliberate Deception Deliberate deception in the workplace includes taking credit for work done by someone else, calling in sick in order to go to the beach, sabotaging the work of another person and, in sales, misrepresenting the product or service to get the sale. There are other examples of deliberate deception, but these show how damaging deception can be by using a person's trust to undermine his rights and security. In a workplace environment, this results in conflict and retaliation. In a sales function, it can result in lawsuits from deceived customers. Violation of Conscience Your sales manager calls you into his office and threatens to fire you unless you sell 50 large toasters. You know the large toasters are inferior products and have been selling the small toasters to your customers, instead. To keep your job, you must violate your conscience and recomm ...
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