1. What are Joseph’s ethical problems?
a. Joseph’s ethical problems an employee paying off or giving “kickbacks” to some of his buyers. This could be considered a type of bribery, the practice of offering something in order to gain an illicit advantage, called “Facilitation Payments” payments made to obtain or retain business. Joseph also feels he has issues with his boss in what he perceived to be a “hostile work environment”. For a hostile work environment to exist there must be 3 criteria’s met; the conduct was unwelcome, the conduct was severe, pervasive, and regarded by the claimant as so hostile or offensive as to alter his or her working conditions and the conduct was such that any reasonable would find it hostile or offensive. Joseph believes if he were to tell his boss of the situation he could be putting himself and Carl up for termination.
2. Imagine you are Joseph. Discuss your options.
a. Joseph has an ethical issue, which is a problem, situation, or opportunity that requires an individual group, or organization to choose among several actions that must be evaluated as right or wrong, with one of his sales people giving kickbacks for some of his buyers to gain an advantage over the other sales associates, he does not have an ethical dilemma which in the same situations he would need to choose among several wrong or unethical actions.
b. Joseph should start with talking to Carl and advise him of the unethical behavior and come up with some fair solutions that is equitable to all sales employees. Once he and his team of sales employees recognize and understand the ethical issues they can start to create an effective ethics and compliance program will minimize the unethical behavior.
3. As Joseph what other information do you need to make your decision?
a. If it is decided that Joseph has the conversation with Carl about the ethical issues and