Business Ethics in Current Events & Hiring Faculty Members Discussion – Description
While our discussions of ethics in business can sometimes seem esoteric and removed from our day-to-day management responsibilities, the various media are filled with real-life examples of unethical business behavior that harms the businesses involved, as well as their shareholders, customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
For this discussion, identify a news story that has been published within the 30 days preceding the due date of this discussion that describes such a breach of business ethics. You may find these through a web search, library research, professional journals, professional association websites, newspapers, etc.
In your initial post:
Briefly explain the situation and the parties involved.
Identify your ethical standard and the ethical issue(s) that violates that standard.
Explain how you would have prevented this situation and would now respond, including support from a second source.
The student must, then, post 2 replies:
For each thread and reply, analysis must be supported with a minimum of 2 scholarly sources.Breach of Trust
1. Charles Sturt University (CSU) is located in Australia and has recently made a controversial decision to hire a faculty member that was previously removed from their prior role due to inappropriate conduct (Lewis, 2023). The individual that has garnered all this attention for CSU is Alan Cooper, a researcher, who was previously accused of severe bullying and intimidation of co-workers and students at another university. These accusations resulted in a multiple month investigation and later his dismissal. Though he has reportedly spent significant time in counseling since this came to light, his new position has caused many at CSU to be very alarmed. Those previously affected by him vary in opinion, ranging from claiming he permanently scarred them and should have nothing to do with academia, to saying he is an excellent researcher but should not have a position of power.
The previous lack of ethics by Alan has now put his new employer in a questionable ethical dilemma (Lewis, 2023). By taking an already proven liability on as an employee, CSU is putting its current faculty and student body at risk. Studies show that attitude can be conflicting for new hires coming off a dismissal (Scrimpshire & Lensges, 2022). They are largely thankful for the opportunity at first, but after the relief wears off, they can become bitter when they feel superiors are not as skilled as they. This is an invitation for problems, underserving of those who were already involved in the organization. This is practically a breach of trust for stakeholders.
Ethical Standard
There are multiple ethical standards to address. First, the behavior of Alan Cooper is reportedly alarming (Lewis, 2023). Though “serious misconduct” is a broad statement, it is best summed up as any conduct that merits termination (Twibell et al., 2022). Simply, this is not a work-related mistake, but rather purposeful choices that lack professionalism. Based on the report by Lewis, its evident that Alan made multiple bad decisions that affected all of those around him. Its one thing to be demanding, its another to be so toxic that those under him needed counseling. Professionalism must be the standard, one that can correct subordinates without belittling them. This is common decency and the application of ethics.
Another ethical standard to address is the workplace environment. As mentioned, CSU is risking a toxic environment for its staff and students in hopes of acquiring a great talent for research (Lewis, 2023). This is a questionable decision because the workplace ought to be one that is safe and promotes a healthy environment (Xu et al., 2022). This is necessary in professional environments where teamwork is essential. This results in trust as teams rely on each other to achieve organizational objectives. This author feels CSU should not have offered Alan a role in their university for the sake of the stakeholders and to ensure the environment is beneficial to participants.
Preventing the Situation
If this author were in the position to hire Alan, he would have chosen the second option. This is not ill will towards Alan, but rather concern for the current staff and associated students. As previously mentioned, Alan was dismissed due to poor conduct that violated ethical standards of another university (Lewis, 2023). It is the obligation of the institution to promote a solid environment that can nourish and stimulate those involved. This hire makes a number of people concerned that should not have to be. This controversy is not due to a difference of opinion, but poor conduct. Poor conduct that hurt others, not just the individual committing the error.
Despite this author’s resistance to hire Alan, he does recognize that Alan has taken steps to improve himself following his firing (Lewis, 2023). Many have likewise gone to counseling and bettered themselves for it (Lomas, 2019). Considering the situation that Alan found himself in, he responded in a necessary manner. In time, he could help someone else going down the same path he was. In that way, he would be preventing it for others.
Biblical Application
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Romans 12:18). The situation described that resulted in Alan’s firing was due to him not being peaceful with others (Lewis, 2023). No doubt he is an intelligent individual, but his arrogance and ego became his detriment. If only he had been patient with those around him, he could have advanced his career without suffering this setback. Living in the manner that Paul instructed results in trust in the workplace. People know that bad news will be handled well and navigated as necessary to minimize the frustration. This results in future opportunities, by simply living peacefully with others.
2. Two high-ranking officials in Rhode Island are facing ethics hearing following allegations of inappropriate behavior during a business trip. David Patten and James Thorsen who work with Rhode Island’s Division of Capital Management and Maintenace are accused of inappropriate behaviors during a business trip. According to NBC 10 News as reported by Brian Crandall on June 27th, 2023, there are two allegations in the case filed against the two officials. The first is that they violated state law by inappropriately accepting gifts while they were on business trip. The second allegation is that Patten made a racist and sexist remark during the business meeting. With the case of accepting gifts, it is alleged that the two officials requested for meal at a high-end restaurant and also Patten took items from vendors they visited during the trip. Another issue on this allegation is that Thorsen tried to downplay the need to report the gifts because of ethical reasons. According to the claim filed against them, the officials requested that scout company should open a high-end restaurant which was at the moment closed for them to eat as a favor if they wanted $55 million contract to renovate the Cranston Street Armory. Patten is alleged to have taken things like vegan cheese, hand blown glass, and a pair of sneakers from the vendors there. Even though it was reported that Patten’s lawyer said that Patten refunded the $500 cost of the meal, there is still an argument that opening the restaurant just for them itself has value beyond just the price of the cost of the meal. Also, the officials also requested for a private space worth $200.
For the racist and sexist allegation, Patten’s lawyer claims that Patten’s mental health issue was the cause of the racist and sexist remark that Patten made. He said that Patten lost his sister, his father-in-law, and his best friend over the last 3 years and within this period of time Patten had not taken extended time off from work. Some of the issues on the allegations include that Patten made mention of the favor of opening the restaurant for them to eat as a favor for the contract. If this is determined to be true, I believe it is unethical. It seems like bribery for Scout to get the contract. Also, the value of the private space worth $200 which they requested was not refunded. Even making such request for the restaurant to be opened for them is unethical. It would have been better if Scout had offered on their own to host the officials at the restaurant without them making the demand by themself. Mentioning the contract when making the request suggest that if the request was not met, it could be a ground for the officials to deny Scout the contract. Asking for and collecting the items from Scout and vendors shows that the officials have some kind of personal interest, and it is unethical. Public office centered corruption is misuse of authority for personal gain (Koven & Perez, 2021). Corruption gives birth to unethical behaviors in business. I think there is personal gain in the case of Patten and Thorsen. Ethics principles and standards are set to avoid soliciting or accepting money, preferential discounts, credits, and the acceptance of gifts, entertainment, favors for services from suppliers that might influence decisions (Liu, 2020).
On the issue of Patten’s racist and sexist allegation, even though according to the source of the news, there is no detail on the statements Patten made, Patten through his lawyer has accepted making the racist and sexist remark as alleged. It should be properly investigated to ascertain the health issues of Patten which the lawyer claimed as the cause of the behavior from Patten. I think as a high-ranking official, Patten should understand the consequences of making such racist and sexist remarks. The scripture condemns any form of racism where it says, ” For there is no difference between Jews and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (NIV, Romans 10:12, 2011). Understanding this should help guide us against uttering racist and sexist comments against others. I believe that Patten and Thorsen were unethical in their behaviors, and they should apologize and accept the consequences of their actions. As at the time of the file of the claim, Patten had already resigned from his position.
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