Question

Ethical Dilemma: Conflict over privacy in the workplace There is tension between companies and their employees over privacy in the workplace. Some companies track employees via company-issued GPS-enabled smartphones and monitor employees’ behaviour through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Currently, there are no laws preventing companies from monitoring and tracking employees. Companies believe not monitoring these platforms leaves them vulnerable to misconduct. For instance, the internet increased the number of distractions in the workplace, and some employees may spend up to 30 percent of their time at work using social media sites for non-work purposes. On the other hand, employees argue they have a right to their privacy. They see tracking as a clear sign that their employers do not trust them. Another major argument is that employers with access to employee social media sites or smartphones might be able to monitor employee activity outside the workplace. Where is the line drawn on ensuring employees are working appropriately versus their rights to privacy? Companies should have the right to track employees through company smartphones and monitor their personal Facebook and Twitter accounts. Employees should be able to maintain their personal privacy and not be tracked through their company smartphones or their Facebook and Twitter accounts. You need to judge the ethical scenario and make a sound ethical decision. As part of this report you will need to:

Discuss the importance of ethical decision making in the businesses.

Analyse the provided ethical dilemma and identify its positive and negative points.

Take a position (using ethical theories) to support or reject the provided ethical dilemma.

Critically evaluate your position and justify why did you take such position.

Discuss the role of corporate governance in the provided ethical dilemma and how directors and boards should act in such situation.

Develop a plan/recommendations to review and monitor the process of ethical decision making in the companies which could face similar ethical dilemmas.

Answer 1

Discuss the importance of ethical decision making in the businesses.

Ethics are basically principals which guide behaviour of a person. And ethics can vary from person to person. Some person find it is good to be a vegetarian and some will not support it.

>Business ethics help employees to make better decision quickly.

>It will increase overall productivity, revenue and profit.

>Business ethics contribute to employee commitment and dedication.

>It contributes to investor and customer loyalty and customer satisfaction.

>It contributes to reputation and image. Poor business ethics will affect the organization in long term i.e. survival of business.

>It ensures smooth functioning of business.

>Good relationship is developed between business and society.

>Personal ethics are not sufficient to manage a business, so there is a need to have business ethics.

>Personal experiences are not always appropriate to make decision in the business, there should be business ethics.

==============================================================================================================================================================================

Analyse the provided ethical dilemma and identify its positive and negative points.

Analysis of given ethical dilemma

Companies track personal information of their employees via GPS, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

From the company’s perspective employees spend 30 % of time on social media. It is bad for the company.

From the employee’s perspective, it is their privacy what they are doing. Company has no right to see their personal information.

Now in this case personal information of somebody cannot be accessed by anybody. Employees have their right to privacy. Their location cannot be tracked by the company. Company should see the output of the employee if they are doing their job up to the mark then it is ok to use social media sites in there tea time or lunch time. At the same time employees should also see that it is not ethical to use social networking sites during working hour.

Positive points

If company see personal information of employees like they are using Facebook rather than doing job in the working hours then company has an eye over his employees. And performance level of employee can be raised by notifying them to not to use social networking sites in working hour.

Negative points

It is bad to track location of employees through GPS. Limit can be put on usage of social networking sites but not on location of employee. There are other ways to check whether an employee is in the office or not. Like for entering into the office Id card is scanned and time is noted. From here company can check login and logout of employee from the office.

==============================================================================================================================================================================

Take a position (using ethical theories) to support or reject the provided ethical dilemma. Critically evaluate your position and justify why did you take such position.

I take position of board of directors to resolve this ethical dilemma. In the company board of directors have power to make decisions and to make plans. So, I chose this position.

There are positive and negative aspect in this dilemma. So, this ethical dilemma cannot be supported or rejected. Both the parties have their viewpoint. And they are right at their perspective. Company cannot tolerate if employees are not working during working hour rather then they are using social networking sites like Facebook.

And at the same point privacy of employees should be considered. Their location cannot be tracked. It is unethical to track someone location via GPS.

==============================================================================================================================================================================

Discuss the role of corporate governance in the provided ethical dilemma and how directors and boards should act in such situation.

The role of corporate governance is to make plan and strategies for the ethical dilemma. The task of board of directors to make rules and plan to resolve the dilemma. Resolution of ethical dilemma is very necessary for smooth functioning of an organization. It is their responsivity to make sure company will not suffer at any cost. Meanwhile employee’s morale is also kept in mind. For successful business both the aspect (company and employee) should kept in mind. Both objectives should be fulfilled. Means company and employee both are happy at the end. Only then overall goal is achieved and ethics remains at higher priority.

The directors and board should make short term or long-term plan to monitor employees. Both the plans should be clearly explained to the employees. So that they are aware of every situation that may come in future if business ethics are not followed.

==============================================================================================================================================================================

Develop a plan/recommendation to review and monitor the process of ethical decision making in the companies which could face similar ethical dilemmas.

In the process of ethical decision-making board of directors should consider both the aspects, company's profit and as well as employees’ satisfaction. Two plans can be made for this.

In this case board of directors should make short term plan to give privacy right to employee that their location will not be tracked by GPS. And they can social media sites during tea time and lunch time. But during working hours, use of these social networking sites is strictly prohibited.

In the long-term plan, if employees do not take it seriously, strict action should be taken against them because company's work or good will or profit is at top priority. Company will not suffer due to employees’ other activities. And it is not good to watch videos while doing work. Work is worship and it is taken seriously.

==============================================================================================================================================================================