Situation Don Sutton applied for a payroll clerk job with Search Services, a mar
ID: 2493647 • Letter: S
Question
Situation
Don Sutton applied for a payroll clerk job with Search Services, a market research firm. To improve his chances in getting the job, he exaggerated his work experience on his résumé. Based on this résumé, Don was hired. After one year, he received above-average ratings during his annual performance review. Shortly thereafter, his boss met Don’s former supervisor and learned the truth.
Instructions
Use the three-step checklist to help determine whether or not Don’s action demonstrated ethical behavior. (Suggested answers are provided here.)
1. Is the action illegal? No. Overstating qualifications is not illegal, but the employer could terminate your employment.
2. Does the action violate company or professional standards? No. Don was neither an employee of the company nor a member of any profession.
3. Who is affected, and how, by the action? Don: He obtained employment, but now he could be terminated. If retained, he could have difficulty being promoted. Other applicants: More highly qualified applicants lost an opportunity for employment. Search Services: Managers may lose trust in employees.
Based on the above analysis, Don’s actions were unethical.
Situation 3 - answers the situations 3 &4
Ms. Silverman hired her teenage daughter to work after school as an office assistant. Jackie comes in to the office every afternoon and earns $6.00 per hour. During this time, she does homework and telephones friends. Ms. Silverman knows that the business does not really need an assistant, but this is a good way for Jackie to earn spending money.
Is the action illegal?
Does the action violate company or professional standards?
Who is affected, and how, by the action?
Situation 4
Info Tech provides market research for companies that sell products and services on the Internet. Your group at Info Tech has an opening for a research analyst. You are on the search committee to pick candidates to be interviewed. Committee members give the following reasons for wanting to eliminate various candidates.
• Candidate A: “She graduated from college before I was born. She can’t possibly know anything about our business.”
• Candidate B: “The ad said two to five years of experience, but we really need someone with more than two years of experience.”
• Candidate C: “This guy went to the same college I did. Let’s give him a shot.”
Instructions
Use the three-step checklist to determine whether or not the action demonstrates ethical behavior.
Is the action illegal?
Does the action violate company or professional standards?
Who is affected, and how, by the action?
Explanation / Answer
situation 1 1. No, he did not believe he would be caught he just wanted his resume to look better. He ended up being a very successful person at his job even though he never had the prior experience that was required. 2. public laws often set only minimum standards of behavior. Many businesses and professions set even higher standards of behavior. Thus, an action may be legal, yet still violate standards of the business or profession. Violating these standards may affect your job security or any professional certification you may hold. I would not fire him because he is doing extremely well at his job, but there should be some kind of penalty. situation 2 Obeying the law is in your best interest and the best interest of your busiesness. there is no violation of standards, it is at the discretion silverman to hire any person. Ms.silverman affected by this action, since company is not making good profits, still he is paying to his daughter which inturn damages his financial position. situation 3 candidate A: if there is any age limit specifically mentioned to appoint a person, then it is not possible to hire a person who is morre than specified age limit. his opinion is not illegal candidate b obviously, while doing an interview person who posses more qualifactions and skills, expereince would be selected for a job candidate c it is illegal to appoint a person just because on the basis of college he went, it shows his personal bias towards that specific person. person should be appointed by his skills and competence candiatec actions is against to company or proffesional standards