Ethical problems of Ethical problems of managers:managers:

Managing the BasicsManaging the BasicsGeoffrey G. Bell, PhD, CAGeoffrey G. Bell, PhD, CA

University of Minnesota DuluthUniversity of Minnesota Duluth

October, 2003October, 2003

Hiring & Work AssignmentsHiring & Work Assignments

While the law appears to be clear-cut, there are many While the law appears to be clear-cut, there are many “grey areas.”“grey areas.”

The anti-discrimination laws do not mean you have to The anti-discrimination laws do not mean you have to put an employee into danger because they’re a minority.put an employee into danger because they’re a minority.

Question – what do you do in hiring case #1 if you find Question – what do you do in hiring case #1 if you find that your customer simply is racist and doesn’t like your that your customer simply is racist and doesn’t like your choice? Can you reassign your employee because of choice? Can you reassign your employee because of this? What if not reassigning led to losing the client?this? What if not reassigning led to losing the client?

Beware the “corporate profile” – Enron & Garrett. Do Beware the “corporate profile” – Enron & Garrett. Do you guys fit the corporate profile?you guys fit the corporate profile? Show on WPR this morning.Show on WPR this morning.

Performance evaluationPerformance evaluation

What are the ethical considerations in What are the ethical considerations in performance evaluation? How do they go performance evaluation? How do they go beyond legal issues?beyond legal issues? Utilitarianism – helping employees improve enhances Utilitarianism – helping employees improve enhances

your economic performance.your economic performance. Kantianism – accurate performance reviews treats Kantianism – accurate performance reviews treats

people as ends, and recognizes their worth.people as ends, and recognizes their worth.

What if you got the “ping pong ball”? What What if you got the “ping pong ball”? What would you do? (Essentially, do you blow the would you do? (Essentially, do you blow the whistle on phony job reviews?)whistle on phony job reviews?)

DisciplineDiscipline Having multiple standards can be very problematic. It’s also Having multiple standards can be very problematic. It’s also

probably unethical.probably unethical. Note that you need to think about the situation carefully. In the case Note that you need to think about the situation carefully. In the case

on page 142, Steven is actually getting much better. Maybe he on page 142, Steven is actually getting much better. Maybe he should be commended for progress, not excoriated for failure.should be commended for progress, not excoriated for failure.

Can you think outside the box to derive standards that satisfy Can you think outside the box to derive standards that satisfy everyone?everyone? E.g., the 9-5 work routine failed to work in Silicon Valley.E.g., the 9-5 work routine failed to work in Silicon Valley.

Are your standards really measuring desired behavior anyway?Are your standards really measuring desired behavior anyway? E.g., are you measuring what you really want in terms of performance or E.g., are you measuring what you really want in terms of performance or

can you not see a better alternative?can you not see a better alternative? If Steven is late for client meetings, does that really matter if he’s the top If Steven is late for client meetings, does that really matter if he’s the top

producer? Are you wanting timeliness or sales?producer? Are you wanting timeliness or sales?

Termination nightmaresTermination nightmares

The spouse of a colleague of mine was facing a round of The spouse of a colleague of mine was facing a round of layoffs at work. To find out whether you were laid off or layoffs at work. To find out whether you were laid off or not, you called a 1-800 phone number and entered your not, you called a 1-800 phone number and entered your employee number.employee number.

A colleague of mine was doing on-site research at a A colleague of mine was doing on-site research at a plant the day layoffs were occurring. The manager plant the day layoffs were occurring. The manager wanted to do the job as humanely as possible (avoiding wanted to do the job as humanely as possible (avoiding problems like those above), so as he saw laid off problems like those above), so as he saw laid off employees in the hall, he called them into his office. The employees in the hall, he called them into his office. The result – worker thought that the layoffs were random, result – worker thought that the layoffs were random, and so figured that they wouldn’t be laid off if the boss and so figured that they wouldn’t be laid off if the boss didn’t see them. Many of them spent the entire day in a didn’t see them. Many of them spent the entire day in a washroom stall or outside smpking.washroom stall or outside smpking.