Introduction
Every Company has some ethical rules according to which people should behave themselves in the workplace. The ethical rules are usually similar in most companies as these ethical rules just underline the mode of behavior which people should follow, without considering whether they are at work or another place. The problems appear when the ethical rules or ideas in the company do not correspond to a person’s moral principles.
Main Body
Our task is to consider which actions should be provided if the company’s rules and methods do not correspond to personal moral values. The situation is the following, Joelle gets to know that the company, where she works, dumps dangerous chemical wastes in the nearest lake, where children ride their bikes and the city’s water reservoir is not far from that lake. (Goree)
The problem has appeared. The director of the company said that it was a company secret. People who work at the company must value its secrets, but at the same time, the danger to people’s health has appeared. Joelle is between two fires, whether to make the situation is known and lose her job and the respect of the colleges or to stay silent and be plagued with remorse.
Considering the situation, it may be said that choice is rather difficult as a person never knows which consequences this situation will create. Two ethical principles should be considered: egoism (when the change of the situation is useful only to one person) and unity (when the change of the situation will bring the whole society profit). The second principle is one of the reasons to make the situation known to society as the real danger is directed on all people who live in the nearest region.
Joelle’s next step should be to live the job and to tell the director about her intentions to let the public know about the situation with chemical wastes. First of all, Joelle will not betray the company as she will leave it and let the director be ready to the society’s awareness about his actions. Second, society will be aware of the situation which occurs near them and will be able to protect their health. The situation will change not for good for some people.
The company may be closed and people may lose their workplaces, but their health will be saved. Health is the main aspect of people’s life which should be protected by all means. People will be able to find other jobs, but the health is one and there is no way to improve some health problems if it is too late.
Conclusion
In conclusion, people should always care about the situations where the danger to the whole society occurs. Some people may consider Joelle’s actions as a betrayal but it is not true. Her actions may save people’s life. It is not the betrayal if a person tells about the murder, and the company’s actions are slow killing of people. The ethical rules and prejudices of any company should not contradict the principles of people’s life. It is the crime when people want to save money by the costs of people’s health. There is no conversation about ethics in the workplace when this ethics contradicts the ethics and morality of the whole society.
Reference List
Goree, K. Ethics in the Workplace. St. Petersburg College.