The Case: Ethics Report

Identify an ethical issue that is faced by employers in your field. Then imagine that your employer has asked you to write a 300-800-word memo analyzing that issue. Who are the various groups of stakeholders? What are the goals, needs, concerns, and values of each group of stakeholders? Even though you may favor one position or another, write your report in a way that each of the various groups of stakeholders will see as balanced. You may conclude by stating the position you advocate and explaining why.

Some possible topics are suggested below. Whatever topic you select, remember to imagine that you are working for a specific company, so that you are to consider the issues as they arise for that specific organization:

• Use of animals to test for possible harmful effects on humans of cosmetics, household cleaners, and other consumer products (imagine that you work for a company that makes these products or for a lab that conducts the tests)
• Pollution or environmental disruption caused by your employer (a paper mill, toy factory, engineering consulting firm, etc.)
• Product safety
• Conflicts of interest
• Advertising claims and deception (stick to advertisements for the specific kinds of products marketed by your current or future employer)
• Requests for days off by employees who observe religious holidays that the traditional business calendar does not recognize
• Requests by gay and lesbian employees who are in long-term, committed relationships that their partners receive the same health care and other benefits that are given to partners of married employees
• Requests for extended leaves or shortened work weeks from employees who want to spend more time at home caring for their small children
• Uncertainty about how to deal with clients in another country (pick one) where it is customary to give "business gifts" that would be considered bribes in the United States.