Case study: Chantale Leroux works as a clerk for Avco Environmental Services, a
ID: 447390 • Letter: C
Question
Case study: Chantale Leroux works as a clerk for Avco Environmental Services, a small toxic-waste disposal company.
The company has a contract to dispose of medical waste from a local hospital. During the course of her work, Chantale comes across documents that suggest that Avco has actually been disposing of some of this medical waste in a local municipal landfill. Chantale is shocked. She knows this practice is illegal. And even though only a small portion of the medical waste that Avco handles is being disposed of this way, any amount at all seems a worrisome threat to public health.
Chantale gathers together the appropriate documents and takes them to her immediate superior, Dave Lamb. Dave says, "Look, I don't think that sort of thing is your concern, or mine. We're in charge of record-keeping, not making decisions about where this stuff gets dumped. I suggest you drop it."
The next day, Chantale decides to go one step further, and talk to Angela van Wilgenburg, the company's Operations Manager. Angela is clearly irritated. Angela says, "This isn't your concern. Look, these are the sorts of cost-cutting moves that let a little company like ours compete with our giant competitors. Besides, everyone knows that the regulations in this area are overly cautious. There's no real danger to anyone from the tiny amount of medical waste that 'slips' into the municipal dump. I consider this matter closed."
Chantale considers her situation. The message from her superiors was loud and clear. She strongly suspects that making further noises about this issue could jeopardize her job. Further, she generally has faith in the company's management. They've always seemed like honest, trustworthy people. But she was troubled by this apparent disregard for public safety. On the other hand, she asks herself whether maybe Angela was right in arguing that the danger was minimal. Chantale looks up the phone number of an old friend who worked for the local newspaper.
Questions for Discussion:
What should Chantale do?
What are the reasonable limits on loyalty to one's employer?
Would it make a difference if Chantale had a position of greater authority?
Would it make a difference if Chantale had scientific expertise?y
Explanation / Answer
Q1 Answer -Chantale should further investigate the facts she holds , she only has a document and no support from her superiors
the best course of action for her is to further explore the seriousness of issue and based on the facts take her next course of action
Q2 Answer- Duty of loyalty calls for keeping the interest of our company above self and work in best interest of the company
Q3 Answer - Yes , positions brings with itself some set of autonomy and power , if she had a position of greater authority , she may not have to think and put in efforts in finding facts and reaching out to supervisor , she could have take some sound decisions at her level
Q4 Answer -Yes, if not being a clerk,she would have been a scientist ot a researcher , her know how of the toxic stuff being dumped and the safety issue ,would have a different impact on her decision
Sometimes when we do not completely understand the long term repercussion of a certain item, it does influence our decison ,in this case ,she assume her supervisor to be correct and thought there is no real danger if a small quantity is being disposed .