Joan: Ethics

“SHRINKAGE” AT CARLSON’S SWEETBRIAR CLUB

Introduction/Relevant Facts

Summary of Company

Mike is an experienced and dedicated server who was hired at a club less than six months ago. He is motivated to earn a promotion in the company to provide for his young family. He is easy going and has a good attitude even in his demanding line of work. Mike is well-liked by his superiors, particularly by his supervisor Joey. Joey has hinted that Mike could be promoted to a manager position; Mike is happy. That job comes with better benefits. Joey is a laid back, carefree manager; where as his superior, Rob, is demanding and serious about his and others’ performance. Rob is a hard and critical man. General Manager, Peitro, oversees financial operations and goals of the club but leaves Rob to report between the managers.

Poker Game

At a friendly poker game co-workers notice Joey with three bottles of wine that is served at the club. They make a joke about whether Joey stopped at the club to take the wine on the way or not. Joey blows off the question. During the game Mike wonders whether or not Joey really did take the wine from work. If Joey did take the wine it didn’t seem to concern the other co-workers.

The Connection

The club has been experiencing wine theft and recently locked the wine room to control this. The managers had keys to the room which would give Joey the access to the bottles. It seems to Mike that Joey did take the wine from the club.

Ethical Decision

Mike doesn’t know if he should drink the wine or not. He is confused on whether to tell a manager about Joey having the wine and put their friendship in jeopardy. Joey has shown that he has questionable managerial practices by allowing servers to have a drink while working. Perhaps Joey is the one stealing the wine from work.

Ethical Principles Explained

The ethical principles we are using to examine this case are:

1. Is the act consistent with corporate policy?

2. The TV Test

3. To do Justice

4. To act with integrity

5. To maintain professional relationships

6. To maintain confidentiality

7. The principle of consistency

Is the act consistent with corporate policy? The club has new rules and protection for the wine since wine has been getting stolen. The club does not allow wine to be taken from the restaurant because each bottle has to be signed out and the empty bottle has to be signed back in. Therefore it would be against company policy for the wine to be taken from the restaurant and also stealing if Joey brought the wine home for his own use.

The TV Test acknowledges the fact of the matter at hand and if the issue would be something wanted to be seen on TV. Would Mike want the issue of Joey and his wine bottles on the news.

To do justice is making things right and fair. In Joey taking the wine from the club, he needs to be brought into the right, take responsibility for his actions.

To act with integrity. Joey has ignored club rules by allowing servers to have a drink while working. This makes it hard to tell if he is breaking any other rules and taking wine home. It may be difficult to trust Joey.

To maintain professional relationships is to recognize the status of each of the people involved. Joey is Mike’s supervisor, and even in a game of poker outside of work, needs to respect each others position.

To maintain confidentiality, meaning that it needs to stay within the group. Mike needs to careful what he says to others who are not involved in the issue. Anything that Mike may say to Joey or Rob needs to be kept just between them.

The principle of consistency is keeps thing same. The story that Mike says to one needs to be the same as from others there or said to Joey should be same as what is said to Rob.

Feasible Solutions

As a team we have come up with three possible solutions that Mike would have to consider. These solutions will be based on the seven ethical principles that were discussed above.

1. One solution that Mike should consider to investigate is speaking to Joey in a polite manner. We believe that Mike should confront Joey in a relaxed tone but not accusing him. Doing this may help their friendship expand and tighten their trust with one another. Mike will have to be careful in how he phrases everything so that he does not jeopardize his promotion for higher management.

2. Another solution Mike could consider is to talk to the other co-workers that were playing poker and saw Joey with the wine. He should discuss their comments and attitude toward the situation with them to determine if they were serious or joking. It would be wise to ask each person why they said what they did.

3. Talking to Rob. Mike goes to Rob about the wine bottles that Joey had taken to the poker game. Mike would not have had any of the wine that Joey brought to the poker game

Solutions Discussed with Ethical Principles:

1. Speaking to Joey

Is the Act Consistent with Corporate Policy?

Yes: A question that mike would want to ask is, “Is it appropriate for me to go to my immediate supervisor and confront him about his wrong doing?” In any case, he would have to consult his corporate policy book and see what steps he needs to take. Maybe he would have to go to upper management to speak about theft problems.

The TV test:

Yes: Mike will have to consider the possibility of the media publicizing the ethical dilemma. If the media takes control, he needs to address that he is the one that noticed and resolved the theft problem which could make him look good. Pietro will most likely promote him, a promotion Mike wants.

To act with Integrity:

Yes: Because mike has to be careful on how he words everything, he has to make sure he does not disrespect Joey. At the same time, Mike also has to be sure he does not sound to comforting, giving Joey the impression of irrelevance. It is important