Question

Case You’ve just started a new job in the financial services industry. One afternoon, your manager tells you that he has to leave early to attend his son’s softball game, and he asks you to be on the lookout for an important check that his boss wants signed before the end of the day. He tells you to do him a favor—simply sign his name and forward the check to his boss.


Q) What might influence whether you see this as an ethical issue or not?

Answer 1

There are three factors that influence an individual understands of an issue as ethical or unethical:

• If the peers agree with the action,
• If the action is communicated in an ethical language, and
• If there is a potential of serious harm as a result of the action.

These factors will influence whether I see this as an ethical issues or not. In this case, the peer (boss) agrees with the action, and boss’s language is ethical. But, the potential of serious harm is high, as if the bank or the boss identifies that the sign do not belong to the authorized person, the check can be stopped, or relevant legal action can be taken against the company or individually against me.