Activities

Output 1. Think about it. Directions: Cognizant of the principal theories of ethics as described by ancient and modern philosophers, explain the dilemma in the following situations and tell what could have been done to avoid the following communication ethics blunder.

1. Professor Javier is working on a research with a friend, Dr. Maneto. When the paper  was finished, Professor Javier realized most of the ideas in the study were his. He decided to exclude Dr. Maneto’s name when he published the paper, and claimed sole authorship. He will pay off Dr. Maneto for his trouble.

2. The boss of a predominantly male engineering company moved the new female employee to another position where she would be less likely to draw attention. This new employee’s presence of stirred up conflict because the company has not had a chance to conduct sensitivity training. Some of the male employees made inappropriate remarks to her. She complained to the manager; in response, the manager sanctioned those responsible for the conduct. (Treating your female employees differently based on their gender or in response to a harassment complaint may be considered discriminatory and unethical conduct).

3. Mr. Scott was hired as Yahoo's new CEO in early 2012, in an attempt to reverse the struggling company’s fortunes. By May, a shareholder activist group alleged that Scott had embellished his resume by claiming he had a degree in computer science, along with an accounting degree. He has only an accounting degree.

4. As the HR manager, Mrs. Hermosa is in-charge of keeping the organization not too lose and not too tight, so as to maintain profit. One morning, she found a memo on her desk stating that the company has to cut the work force while honoring the “no firing” pledge. The memo outlined a program that allows Mrs. Hermosa to encourage certain targeted employees to leave the company, especially those who are protected by the terms of their contract. Wanting to keep the job, Mrs. Hermosa called in those in question and asked them to write resignation letters saying a resignation letter is more honorable than getting fired.

5. You are an emergency room nurse at an international hospital. For you, your height of 5’5” and weight 120 kilos are assets as a nurse since many of your foreign patients are heavy. However, this morning you were warned by HR that if you do not lose weight, your current status will be compromised due to the new hospital’s physical fitness requirements.

Output 2. Honesty is the best policy. Directions: Form a pair. Read the prompt below. Write the possibilities A-D.

            Marvin slipped and twisted his ankle at a basketball game during his break that extended beyond what his company allows. He was limping back in the shipping department after the break. His employer saw him limping and, thinking Marvin had slipped on the job, told him to fill out an incident report. His boss offered to take care of Marvin’s medical expenses and give him time off from work, even though Marvin was still capable of performing his work duties. What should Marvin do?

A.      Keep quiet and take the time off with medical benefits. The company can afford it. Who’s going to rat him out?

Possible result of this choice: ________________________________________________

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B.      Quit his job because he doesn’t want to be dishonest and if he tells the truth he might be fired.

Possible result of this choice. ________________________________________________

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C.     Tell his boss he was playing basketball when he should have been working and twisted his ankle then. Apologize and pay for his own medical care. Tell his boss he can still work.

Possible result of this choice: ________________________________________________

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D.     Marvin should just blow off work the next day.

Possible result of this choice: ________________________________________________

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