Upholding Ethical Standards in Supervision: A Case Analysis

by | Nov 15, 2023 | ethics

 

Ethical Issue 1
Ms. Carlan said “I feel a little uncomfortable coming to you. But, quite frankly, I don’t know what else to do.”
“Well, please feel free, Ms. Carlan,” you replied, hoping to put her at ease. “My job is to be available for employees with problems or concerns.”
She began her explanation. “It all began about three months ago. I had started working in the policy analysis and budget section of the department as an analyst. After completing my business administration degree, I was quite excited to find work that would challenge me. Well, I work for Jim Landers, the section chief, and he gave me some very interesting assignments. I had my first big presentation at the Mid-Winter Retreat. I had prepared and rehearsed dozens of times because I knew I’d be in front of my peers as well as the director of administration, Mr. Wallings. I had only met him once before, during my orientation to our section.
“My presentation went very well. That night we all went out for drinks, dinner, and dancing. There must have been ten of us or so. My boss was there, as well as Mr. Wallings. Everyone seemed to be trying to score points with Mr. Wallings throughout the evening, but I really didn’t even have a chance to talk with him. Then everyone started dancing. After about an hour, I danced with Mr. Wallings. He was highly complementary about my presentation and told me what a bright future I had ahead of me. I was, of course, flattered. We spoke for a while after dancing.
“At about midnight, I went to my room to prepare for the next day’s session. I was in my room about 45 minutes when there was a knock on my door. It was Paul Wallings. He said he had to talk with me, so I let him in. He had a drink in his hand, and it was evident to me that he had had a few drinks too many. He made a few passes at me, but I rejected them, telling him that I didn’t get involved with people at work. He seemed stunned at the rejection and left my room angrily after about ten minutes. He basically avoided me for the rest of the retreat.
“We got back to the office the following day, and I plunged into my work. Then it began. My boss, Jim Landers, started giving me assignments that, quite frankly, were beneath me. He really started scrutinizing my work and excluded me from some of the management-development programs that ordinarily I would have attended. Then, I had my three-month appraisal; I was told by Mr. Landers that my work was less than satisfactory, that I wasn’t showing enough initiative, and that my professional and personal skills in the office were lacking. I couldn’t believe it. After I prompted him, he told me that both he and Mr. Wallings thought my presentation at the retreat had been ‘a sophomoric job.’
“That’s when things clicked. I realized that Mr. Wallings was getting back at me through my boss for rejecting his advances and that since that time, my job, the working condition, the environment, and my boss’ attitude had changed dramatically.
“I couldn’t tell my boss about it because I believed he would think it was a ‘female’ way of retaliating for a poor performance review. But I really think that it was Paul Wallings who was calling the shots and my boss was just the messenger who delivered Wallings’ orders.”

QUESTIONS that must be answer

1. As personnel director for this organization, what are your legal- ethical obligation?
Note- write about him as a supervisor- his ethical responsibility as a supervisor- his ethical obligation. (Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations, Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior)

2. Use an ethical decision-making model to outline how you would respond to.
Note-(book) Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling, 6E Pg 15-17 ethical decision making MODELS (PICK Any ethical MODEL) take about the DIFFERENT parts of the model

3. How does critical thinking fit into how you responded.
Note- go to the critical thinking reference

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


This question has been answered

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Title: Upholding Ethical Standards in Supervision: A Case Analysis

Abstract

This paper delves into two ethical issues cases within a professional setting, focusing on the role of a supervisor in addressing ethical dilemmas and fostering a culture of ethical behavior. Using the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics and the CRCC guidelines, the paper examines the legal-ethical obligations of a supervisor and employs an ethical decision-making model to outline responses to the cases. Critical thinking is integrated into the analysis, emphasizing its role in ethical decision-making and professional conduct. The paper also suggests specific practices for aspiring professionals and supervisors to enhance their application of ethical practices.

Introduction

The ethical dilemmas faced by professionals in their work settings demand a robust understanding of legal-ethical obligations and the ability to navigate complex situations with critical thinking and ethical decision-making. This paper analyzes two ethical issues cases from a supervisory perspective, exploring the responsibilities of a supervisor in upholding ethical standards and addressing unethical behavior.

Ethical Issue 1: The Case of Ms. Carlan

As a personnel director for the organization, the supervisor has legal-ethical obligations to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, as well as to report illegal or unethical behavior. In this capacity, the supervisor must prioritize the well-being and fair treatment of employees, and take proactive measures to address instances of misconduct, harassment, or retaliation within the organization.

Using an ethical decision-making model, such as the one outlined in “Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling,” the supervisor can approach the case methodically. The model would involve identifying the problem, considering the ethical principles at stake (e.g., autonomy, non-maleficence, justice), evaluating potential courses of action, consulting with relevant stakeholders, and implementing a decision that upholds ethical standards and safeguards the rights of employees.

Critical thinking plays a pivotal role in how the supervisor responds to this case. By critically evaluating Ms. Carlan’s account, considering the power dynamics at play, and analyzing potential motives behind her mistreatment, the supervisor can make informed decisions rooted in ethical principles and professional conduct.

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing ethical issues within a professional setting requires supervisors to uphold legal-ethical obligations, employ ethical decision-making models, and integrate critical thinking into their responses. By adhering to established codes of ethics and fostering an environment that prioritizes ethical conduct, aspiring professionals and supervisors can contribute to the development of best practices and ensure the application of ethical standards in their respective fields.

References

CRCC (2023). Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

American Counseling Association (2014). ACA Code of Ethics.

Neukrug, E. S., & Milliken, T. F. (2017). Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling (6th ed.).

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2002). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools.

 

This question has been answered.

Get Answer