Ethical or Unethical

Calling in sick when you really are not is unethical because on such short notice a replacement will be difficult, if at all, to find. Someone needs to do the job that you are hired to do with or without you. Everybody at one point or another gets ill and that is understandable but every day that job is not done or done incorrectly costs the company money. If the company feels that you are costing them more than if they trained someone else with a better attendance record for your position they will let you go.

Taking office supplies home for personal use is unethical and illegal because they are property of the company.

Theft is something we are taught at a young age to be wrong so in essence this also goes against morals. The company loses money and they need to cover this loss by either cutting hours, laying off employees, postponing raises or giving them to some employees.

You could be one of those employees without a raise indirectly affected or arrested for stealing if caught. Cheating on a work appraisal is risky if not unethical. This directly relates to money and affects many different parties directly as well as indirectly in a negative way.

Profits are the difference between success and the demise of a business but cheating is a quick route to demise. A business will not support an employee whose actions put their company at such risk. Turning in a coworker for stealing is ethical in the sense of the word but may go against the morals you know growing up.

Stealing is wrong but a “snitch” is not what any of us wants to be. It is a double-edged sword, the company will be grateful in knowing who is stealing from them and will eradicate that problem but then you will be a known “snitch” who can’t be trusted.

Overcharging on your company expense report is seemingly harmless, but in the end who really pays? For the meantime, while you are a productive member of the staff it is acceptable but eventually may not equate to your overall production. The issue at hand is if this were ethical behavior, the answer would have to be no. You have to keep in mind this is not your money and if it were, would you be so generous. Surfing the net on company time unethical is extreme especially if it is pertaining to company business.

The questionable part is whether this falls into the category of ethical or unethical. If you are surfing, the net for personable reasons that is not something the company should pay for. It is intolerable behavior and when it takes time away from your duties that is unethical and that is means for termination. If you are surfing the net after your work is completed and you still have time on the clock before your work day is done that is just taking advantage of the situation and would be worthy of a warning not to do again or else.

Lying (exaggerating) about yourself (education or experience) on a resume or during a job interview is immoral which in definition is unethical but then again it has to do with your upbringing. If you do something you know is wrong then you just should not do it. If in reality it does not hurt anyone then it can be justifiable but not excused. If you know you can do the job that the description calls for but you do not possess the experience that is required, I think is something one has to decide if it is ethical. Despite the simplicity of the definition, application is more complex. (McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2009)