Below are some real-life situations that present ethical questions in a business. Discuss the two situations and look at it (a) from a strictly legal viewpoint, (b) from a moral and ethical viewpoint, and (c) from a point of view of what is best in the long run for the company.
Look at each situation from the perspective of all groups concerned: customers, stockholders, employees, and community and not just your opinion of the situation.
Situations 1. You are a general manager in a cosmetics firm. The results of a study show that your major brand could cause skin cancer. From the different viewpoints stated above, is this legal and ethical or illegal and unethical, or a combination of the two, and what is the potential outcome of the company if it does nothing? What would be your recommendations and why? 2. Because of a loophole in federal laws, you find that you could legally pay your workers less than the minimum wage. The cost savings you recommend may mean you’re getting a choice promotion. From the different viewpoints stated above, would this be legal and ethical or illegal and unethical, or a combination of the two? What would you do? Explain your justification.
– Discuss these two situations. Be sure to consider both short- and long-range consequences.
