Name: Arlene G.

Bobadilla

Section: BS Accountancy II-A

Final Examination GE 6 Professional Ethics and Values Education

Direction: Choose 1 Scenario and follow the steps below for making ethical decisions.

Scenario

CASE 4: Richard and Conway are talking in the hallway about the employee
benefits program. Conway, who has had some recent financial trouble, explains
to Richard how the benefits program has a loophole that will allow him to receive
some financial assistance that he really needs to help pay health care costs for
his mother. Cathy, a fellow worker, overhears the conversation. Later, Cathy is
approached by her supervisor who says he heard a rumor that some people were
taking advantage of the company benefits program.

Steps for Making Ethical Decisions

1. Identify the ethical issue or problem.

The ethical issue or problem in case number 4 can be seen on Conway
who is trying to help Richard but in an unethical manner: to defraud the company
to get some financial support using the loopholes he can see which will obviously
violate the policies of the organization.
2. List the facts that have the most bearing on the decision.
 The urge of Richard to have money for his mother
 The company policy that will be violated
 Cathy between her loyalty to the company and sympathy for Richard
 Cathy considering the privacy of others

3. Identify anyone who might be affected by your decision and how.

 Conway
If Cathy chose to report Conway to their supervisor, she may be
terminated from his work.
 Richard
If Richard agrees with Conway to do the unjust way of getting financial
assistance, the supervisor may no longer find out the unethical action and he can
also be demoted or terminated.
  Richard’s mother
If Richard did not agree with way of Conway, his mother’s health care
might be sacrificed.
 Cathy
If Cathy chose not to report Conway and Richard to their supervisor, and
when the latter knew from others the deceptive action of two against the
company, and found out already that Cathy knows it but not reported to him, he
may demote Cathy from his position or worse terminate also.
4. Explain what each affected person would want you to do about the issue.
 Conway
Conway is a professional worker and she may be considering the ethical
decision making. But maybe he is in the situation of pitying Richard who really
needed money for the health of his mother so that he thought of sharing such
things to Richard to help. However, that may lead them do unethical actions
against the company.
 Richard
Richard can do only two actions. As a loving son to his mother, he can
continue with the urge of getting money from company in an unethical way, or as
a professional worker he can go with the ethical way by the risk of talking to their
supervisor with the hope of helping him with his concern.
 Richard’s mother
Richard’s mother may not know anything so she can do nothing about it
but the fact that her health care maintenance depends on the decision Richard
will make.
 Cathy
Cathy is also a professional worker who can report to their supervisor the
unfavorable plan of Conway to help Richard. She may do it to consider the ethics
and policies of the company. However, she may also be a person of a good heart
and let Richard decide about Conway’s plan for the sake of his mother.
5. List three alternative actions and identify the best and worst case scenario
for each alternative, anyone who would be harmed by this choice (and
how), any values that would be compromised by selecting this alternative,
and any automatic reasons why this alternative should not be selected
(legal issues, rules, etc.).
A. Richard can agree with Conway to defraud the company
Best case scenario: Richard can pay health care costs to his mother.
Worst case scenario: The supervisor will no longer find out his unethical
decision and action against the company and can terminate him.
Anyone who would be harmed by this choice: Richard and Conway can be
harmed if the supervisor finds out their deceptive action. Cathy as well can also
be harmed if the supervisor found out that she already know about it yet they did
not reported it to him.
Values that would be compromised by selecting this alternative: Richard
being a good and loving son, because this alternative means that he can do
anything for the sake of his mother.
Why this alternative should not be chosen: If Richard chose to defraud the
company, he may face respective consequences after the supervisor knows
about this unethical doings. He is violating the policies and can be considered
unprofessional for doing such actions even though he is in urge of doing so.
B. Cathy can report Conway to their supervisor
Best case scenario: Cathy can be a way to correct the unethical plans of
Conway for Richard and can save the company from fraud and policy violation.
Worst case scenario: Richard may not be able to pay the health care costs for
her mother on the time demanded.
Anyone who would be harmed by this choice: Conway can be harmed for he
can be demoted or terminated once the supervisor finds out his unethical plans
and action. Richard’s mother can also be harmed for she may not be able to get
the health care needed.
Values that would be compromised by selecting this alternative: Cathy
being loyal, honest and truthful to the company, because she chose to tell all to
their supervisor to save the company from being deceived, not considering the
situation of Richard.
Why this alternative should not be chosen: This alternative can affect a
person who does not know anything - Conway’s mother.
C. Cathy will just stay outside Conway and Richard’s business and will not
report them to their supervisor
Best case scenario: Conway’s unethical way of having financial assistance may
not be revealed and he might be safe from any demotion or termination. Also,
Richard, if agreed to Conway, can have the money for his mother’s health care.
 Worst case scenario: Once the supervisor found out from others the actions of
Richard and Conway, they may be terminated. Also, Cathy can also be affected if
their supervisor or manager knew that she is aware of it already but did not
bother to report it to him.
Anyone who would be harmed by this choice: At first, no one will be. But once
the supervisor finds out about this, Richard, Conway, and Cathy can be harmed.
Values that would be compromised by selecting this alternative: Cathy
being respectful of other’s business and privacy, and she being compassionate
with Richard, maybe because she understands his current situation or problem
about his mother.
Why this alternative should not be chosen: This alternative can violate the
company policies more because even though Cathy has already had an idea of
these unethical actions, she did not bother to tell it to her supervisor.
6. Determine a course of action.

After listing all the possible alternatives to act to be able to solve the case
number 4, every consequence should be considered. In relation to that,
here is the ideal and best course of action derived from analyzing the
whole situation:

 For Cathy, it is just right to tell their supervisor about the discussions of
Conway and Richard. But if she wants to give consideration to Richard’s
mother’s needs, the best way for her to do is to advice Richard to just
talk to their manager for any ethical and proper solution that he
needs to be able to provide his financial needs for his mother. On the
other hand, she may also advice Conway to talk and reveal to their
supervisor/manager her unethical knowledge about the loopholes of
having financial assistance from the benefit program of the company. She
may warn Conway of the possible consequences she might face once
their supervisor finds out about these unjust plans and actions.

 For Richard, he should thank Conway for her will to help him on his
financial problem especially that it is for his mother. But as employees,
they should also consider their professionalism. Richard should talk to
Conway to stop doing such actions which is obviously unethical. Maybe he
needs money but he can talk to their supervisor or manager on how much
he needs money because of his mother’s condition. By that, maybe his
manager can give him enough financial assistance or appropriated
benefits that may help him pay for his mother’s health care costs.
  Another alternative course of action for Richard is that, maybe he can
rather borrow money from one of his friends and promise to pay it
back when he got his salary, so that he can still provide the health care
which his mother really needs to have.

In a professional workplace, we should always consider the maturity that we need on

making decisions especially when it concerns our job, that’s why we called it
“professional workplace”- no place for selfishness nor unjust decision making, thus we
should always consider the ethics policies of an organization. Personal issues should
stay outside professions. We should never involve making any personal decisions on
work for it may affect our actions as a professional. Always bear in mind the essence
of professionalism.