GEOMATIKA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

ASSIGNMENT

NAME : DICKLAN ANAK WILFRED BAYANG

STUDENT ID : 921219-13-5185

MODULE : PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

CODE : DEPE430

SUBMISSION BY : JULY 2020

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 GEOMATIKA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

ASSIGNMENT

Instructions to Candidates:

1. This assignment attracting 40 % of total course grade

PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to develop learners’ ability to evaluate a real
ethical problem in management and to recommend a suitable analytical method for
solving the identified problem as discussed in the module or other relevant books.

REQUIREMENT
Identify TWO real ethical problem in Workplace. Evaluate why it is considered as
ethical problem and recommend a suitable analytical method for solving the
identified problem.

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ANSWER

Ethical problems are found in daily life and at work. Workplace ethics are the set of values

and moral principles that need to be followed by both employers and employees in the

workplace. It is the set of rules and regulations that requires to be followed by all staff of the

workplace. A truly ethical workplace should model ethical behaviour from the top down, and

from the inside out. Workplace ethics are reflected in how organizations treat their suppliers

and customers, how they interact with others, how they perform their tasks, and how they

communicate both internally and externally.

There are several ethical problems found in workplace which is affects the growth of a

company and productivity of employees. Following are two real ethical problems in

workplace and suitable analytical methods for solving the identified problem.

Sexual Harassment

Workplace harassment is all too common, and can ruin a great job and turn a company into a

toxic and unproductive environment. Often, harassment goes unreported, as victims may be

unsure of what qualifies as workplace harassment and what to do when they experience it.

All unlawful workplace harassment is discriminatory in nature. Laws require organizations to

protect the employee no matter what gender. Sexual harassment has broad categories can be

broken down into different parts. It can be verbally and also physically. Sexual Harassment

Workplace harassment includes different types of discrimination and acts of violation that are

not confined to one specific group. The wide-ranging types of workplace harassment can be

loosely categorized into emotional and physical abuse. All of these forms of workplace

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harassment target various groups, including men and women. The victim can be co-worker, a

supervisor, or a customer.

A common ethical problem about workplace harassment is simply sexual harassment in the

context of a workplace. Workplace sexual harassment is internationally condemned as sex

discrimination and a violation of human rights. Sexual harassment in the workplace increases

absenteeism and turnover and lowers workplace productivity and job satisfaction. The ethical

problem still remains pervasive and underreported. Strong workplace policies prohibiting

sexual harassment, workplace training, and a complaints process that protects workers from

retaliation seem to offer the most promise in reducing sexual harassment

While sexual harassment is a prominent form of workplace harassment, workplace

harassment as being more than just sexual harassment. Workplace harassment may also

involve of offensive conduct that is so severe or pervasive that it creates a hostile or unsafe

working environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision. It is also

common among employers to verbally harass employees This will reduce employee morale

and productivity. This is very unethical to treat employees such ways.

Some examples of sexual harassment in the workplace is sharing sexually inappropriate

images or videos, such as pornography or salacious gifs, with co-workers, displaying

inappropriate sexual images or posters in the workplace and telling lewd jokes, or sharing

sexual anecdotes.

Firstly, an employer has the major responsibility to prevent sexual harassment. Which means

imposing a strict code of conduct good behaviour, and possibly implementing a whistle-

blower hotline for anonymous reporting of unethical behaviour. Each employer also needs to

train their employees on what harassment is, how to recognize it and how to report it.

Training can do drastic changes. If any complains receives on sexual issues. The employers
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have to take immediate action. To avoid this ethical problem an internal complaint

investigation should be introduced that can make employees feel safe and secured.

Companies need to have predefined rules and regulations regarding workplace ethics. These

rules and regulations should be given to new staffs. After a domestic inquiry is done

necessary action should be taken towards the harasser as a act of zero tolerance to unethical

sexual harassment.

All employees deserve a workplace that is physically and emotionally safe, where they can

focus on their job responsibilities and obtain some fulfilment, rather than worrying about

unsafe conditions, harassment, or discrimination. Workers also expect respect for their

privacy.

Misuse of Company Technology

Misuse of company technology may feel like a minor problem., The inappropriate use of the

internet and company technology is big cost for organizations, worker productivity and

company money. Not only is it a misuse of company tools and technology, but it’s also a

misuse of company time.

Examples of misuse of technology is using the internet on company time, gambling and also

watching and downloading pornographic images or videos. Technology abuse can also from

answering personal e-mail to running a business on company time. The misuse of technology

in workplace is becoming a serious ethical problem. Employers should have in place an email

and internet policy, setting out clearly how employees can use its email and internet facilities.

The employer should clearly explain company rules on what is and what is not acceptable

regarding the use of the internet, emails, smart phones, tablets and social media in the

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workplace. This should include the internet access, and work email are all company property,

and the company reserves the right to monitor use and access. The company also should limit

the use of computers, tablets, smart phones or other technology access for personal use only

during designated breaks or other non-working time.

Training Employees plays important role in preventing this unethical behaviour. On the

company policy, it should be clearly defined expectations, proper use, and abuse that will

result in corrective actions. The employees should be asked to be vigilant in using their work

time, internet, and computer resources wisely.

The employees need to be supervised to ensure obedience to all company policies and

procedures. Train leaders to remain aware of employees’ computer activities and other

indicators that show there may be a problem. For example, decreased productivity, missing

deadlines, spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet, and shifting to another site

when someone walks by can indicate there is a potential problem. Raise awareness, set

expectations, monitor, give feedback and reinforce the need to use the Internet appropriately.

Employees who violate the technology policy should be held responsible. The level of the

violation drives the corrective action response. For minor violations, they may give them

support and coaching to help them improve. For more serious violations and repeat offenders,

written warnings and ultimately discharge may be the best recourse. It is important to keep in

mind that other employees know when abuse is taking place. If they realize someone getting

away with wasting time and misusing the technology, it causes resentment, negativity, and

may lead to them adopting poor Internet habits as well. Be consistent and take needed actions

to enforce your policy. Technology abuse can be a hidden activity that requires clear policies,

training, monitoring, leader reinforcement, and corrective action to use the technology in

good way.

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Ethical issues exist in almost every workplace because workers often face situations, which

involve ethical dilemmas. Moreover, when ethical issues are not resolved in time, they result

in a hostile work environment making it harder for the employees to give their maximum

potential. The effective management of ethics is sound business practice. Employees’ morale

is raised bottom-line performance be improved, corporate image is enhanced and customers

choose to form business relationships with companies that adhere to high standards of ethical

conduct. One of the key management tasks is to persuade employees to accept your

organization’s ethical values.

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REFERENCE

Ethical framework, Hamiliton Health Sciences, 2010

Berrey E, Nelson RL, Nielsen LB. Rights on trial: How workplace discrimination law
perpetuates inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 2017.

Fusilier M, Penrod C. University employee sexual harassment policies. Employee

Mike Enright. (2017). Identifying and analysing an ethical issue. Physiopedia.

Sexual harassment. (2003, May 29). Retrieved July 1, 2020, from