Course Overview:
As it relates to ethical behavior, the relationship between an employer and employee has probably raised more issues than any other relationship. It wouldn't take a long time to search on the Internet and find an article about what a company has done to an employee, therefore, raising questions about the company.
Even though employees are more inclined to change jobs today than they were 30 years ago, it is still disturbing for an employee to face termination or disciplinary action. Moreover, given the economic situation of many people, it can be financially devastating to be without work for even a short period of time. So, let's look at some specific areas of the employer-employee relationship.
This module discusses the balance between an employee's loyalty to the company and loyalty to the public at large. When can employees who owe their loyalty to the company breach that loyalty?
Additionally, the module explains that companies must provide a safe workplace and explores the conditions in which employees can seek damages from the company when their health is affected by the job site. What worker's compensation is and how it protects both employer and employee will be explored.
This module also discusses employee rights in the workplace, especially privacy rights. Does the Constitution guarantee an employee in a private company the right to free speech? The answer is a resounding no.
The Constitution prohibits Congress (and through the 14th Amendment, the States) from passing laws restricting a person's right to free speech.
However, the Constitution does not prohibit a company from firing an employee who complains about the company or makes statements about it.
In addition, this module explores the impact of technological advances on business law and ethics.
You will examine the concept of employee privacy juxtaposed with the need of a business "to know," especially with regard to employees' communication and work productivity.
This module also explores intellectual property rights (IPR) and protection, with an emphasis on regulatory protocols and identification of ways to prevent the infringement of IPR.
Module Readings and Assignment:
Complete the following readings early in the module:
Module overview
From your course textbook, Law & Ethics in the Business Environment, 8th read the following chapter:
Whistleblowing: Conflict of Loyalties
Privacy & Technology
Workers' Rights as Human Rights: Health & Safety in the Workplace
Assignment: Discussion-Ethics and IPR
IPR protect drug companies from others making their products without the expense of investing in research and development. IPR also enable drug companies to recoup research and development (R&D) costs by charging more for a drug than the marginal cost of producing it.
One result of this strategy, however, is that unless a company can charge enough to cover the costs of R&D and production, it has no incentive to develop and produce a drug; no matter how important that drug may be to certain populations, for example, the poor in third-world countries.
What ethical dilemmas does this situation pose for drug companies?
Do other types of companies face similar dilemmas?
In addition to the readings assigned for the Module, identify and read two to three other articles on professional ethics and the concept of intellectual property.
Share your observations, early conclusions, reflections, and questions in this discussion.