Suppose that you are the VP for HR for a large U.S. corporation with an overseas footprint. The company has a mission and values statement that reads in part:
The company is committed to the needs of both shareholders and all other stakeholders, including employees.
The company values employee involvement in corporate decision making.
The company has never been unionized; however, recently the company learned that a number of its production employees in a variety of U.S. locations had been approached by union organizers. There are also rumors that office employees in the headquarters have been solicited by a second union.
The CEO has asked you to provide a memo considering the ethical implications of hiring a union avoidance firm to fight the union. The CEO indicates that he has been in touch with one firm, Union Busters, that has been very successful in fighting unions; and he is aware that the firm engaged in illegal, but virtually undetectable activities supporting its work.
The CEOs memo ends as follows: I need to know under what circumstances you believe it would be ethical for us to hire Union Busters to address the apparent threat we are facing.
In writing your memo, you must make reference to at least three of the readings in this lesson as well as the eight-step decision tool from the Trevino and Nelson text.
Gather the facts.
Define the ethical issues.
Identify the affected parties.
Identify the consequences.
Identify the obligations.
Consider your character and integrity.
Think creatively about potential actions.
Check your gut.
