Question

. Employees might consider a specific action as ethical in the business environment but unethical outside of work. Give 2 personal examples. Explain why you feel that way.

Answer 1

There are a number of situations where a specific action is ethical within business environment but unethical outside it. The two examples are

(i) A situation where an organisation is forced to engage child labour despite the outside laws / regulations prohibiting the action. The reason behind engagement is the abject poverty and crime rate that prevails in the region. If the young and impressionable minds are not engaged in work, they would most probably take to criminal recourse such as theft, robbery and prostitution. Full time work would prevent them from being lured by this notorious world.

(ii) A pandemic has caused all members of the ambulance unit in a healthcare organisation to be ill and therefore on leave. The organisation is currently using support employees who can also drive vehicles. However, sometimes they need to work without weekly breaks and at odd hours. This might look ethical within organisation but is against the prevalent law. However, the employer's efforts is saving some lives through this action.

Both situations depict the scenario where something that is unethical / unlawful in the view of law and society, but is ethical within organisation because the action is doing something more valuable by saving few lives and saving few youngsters from entering the world of crime, which has more gravity than acting against the law and general ethical standards of society.