Discussion: Shared Practice 1: The Ethical Challenges and Legal Risks of Being a Manager

Often, people have difficulty recognizing when they may be compromising their own personal ethics. This does not mean that they are unethical people, per se. Unconscious prejudices and unintended biases can taint a manager's decisions, choices, and actions to the detriment of employers, employees, partners, and clients. Some decisions that appear to be profitable can appear short-sighted, unethical, and unwise in the long-term. When deadlines may not be met, when the threat of failure casts a larger shadow than the prospect for success, when the thrill of reward obscures long-term consequences, or when monetary incentives can easily skew one's decisions, how can a manager be certain his or her actions-and the actions of their bosses and their employees-are always ethically sound?

For this Shared Practice, reflect on your own professional experiences and search reputable news sources on the internet to find an example in the news where managers and employees at a company fell short of doing the "right thing." Consider the circumstances that surrounded the example and whether it makes the person or organization ‘bad'?

Post a response to the following:

• Describe a case you have experienced or a story within the last three years that you have found through a reputable news source, where the manager(s) of a company did not act ethically or align their conduct with laws and regulations. Discuss the consequences that occurred, or might occur, as a result.

(Hint: Your answer should address who was affected and what happened to the reputation of the organization or the individual(s) involved in the situation.)

• Explain actions would you take if you knew management at your organization was not aligning its actions to the valued and policies of the organization, or worse, to the law. Discuss how would you proceed, and the concerns might you have.

(Hint: In your answer, be sure to consider seriously the obstacles you might confront. Your actions might put friends and colleagues in legal trouble, your own job might be at risk, and "whistle-blowers" often face severe backlash. Your answer should account for these challenges.)
Read a selection of your colleagues' posts.

Respond to two or more of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:

• Share with a colleague an insight you have gained about the importance of a manager being aware of the legal and ethical risks that may occur in the work environment. Share whether you think such awareness could have avoided the ethical dilemma posted by your colleague.

• Share with a colleague some specific resources you know of that can assist managers in the situation described in his or her original post. Discuss how to access or utilize resources, such as, human resources managers, legal/regulatory departments, or outside assistance.