Workplace Dilemma Paper free essay sample

Professional Workplace Dilemma Paper Tabitha Ford Interdisciplinary Capstone Course GEN480 Jeanette Jensen July 11, 2011 Workplace Dilemmas Nearly every working individual has been faced with a career dilemma. Some issues today’s working industry may face include downsizing of staff, pollution, allocation of scarce resources, employee rights, and discrimination against women and minorities. These types of ethical dilemmas are complex and difficult to resolve. Todays workforce is composed of people who are more diverse than ever in culture, religion, education, and socioeconomic status.These people enter the workforce with differing backgrounds, values, goals, and perceptions. These differences can cause conflict between personal values and organizational values; ultimately creating an ethical dilemma. This assignment entails a professional dilemma and values conflict experienced before beginning or during studies at University of Phoenix. Dilemma Experience After working as a sales associate at a local, privately owned jewelry store for more than four years I was promoted to a managerial position. We will write a custom essay sample on Workplace Dilemma Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I remained in this position for two months before the boss, Sean, who also holds sole ownership of the store, told me that one of my employees among several others is to be laid-off soon. I was told not to share this information until instructed otherwise. Meanwhile, one of the employees, Aaron, mentioned that he just bought new carpet for his house and planned to buy braces for his daughter. I continually wondered what the right choice was (I even tried to obtain advice from friends and family).I was instructed not to tell the employees until further notice, but these people are not just employees, they are also my friends. If I keep the information Sean shared with me private I could be jeopardizing a friendship, and placing my employees in a financial hardship (I was aware that Aaron was planning to invest over $12,000 in dental work for his daughter and also aware that his income will stop soon). Analyzing the Dilemma Ethically speaking, I thought it was selfish to have regard only for my career.There was a significant difference in power and authority; ownership of the jewelry store and all assets belong to Sean, and he had invested his entire savings into the organization. It seemed he was solely concerned with profit and I was concerned with diminishing the relations I had built at the workplace. As manager, I was also concerned with sales, and profit, but to be honest I was more concerned with whether my actions and behaviors were justifiable. I continued to ask myself if I was behaving in an ethical manner.Would I be the underlying reason for my employee’s financial bind once he was laid off because I knew he would soon be unemployed and I kept this information from him to satisfy my boss. Withholding this information from my employees went against my personal values, which include dignity, empathy, compassion, accountability, loyalty, and integrity (to name a few). I am an honest individual, and I cannot willingly withhold information that could ultimately terminate a friendship and cause severe damage to the success and happiness of my employee’s professional life as well as their personal lives.Potential Consequences Some of the potential outcomes were to tell my employees before given permission by Sean, and suffer the consequences (which could include lo sing my job), or keep my mouth shut and watch my friends suffer in more than one way. If I told the employees they were going to be laid-off soon there would be severe consequences. The entire organization would be in an uproar, the employees would quit without notice, the boss would probably think I was not suited for a managerial position, and the remaining employees may doubt my abilities. The OutcomeI expressed my concerns and uncertainties to Sean but did not receive a desired response. I was told to stick to my duties and the instructions I was given, or I would be shown to the door. My concerns were not given any attention and Sean seemed to have no regard for anyone other than himself. I tried to address the issue with sensitivity, and I told Sean that I could not refrain any longer, but his response was careless and without regard. I resigned from the position as manager the same day and was soon employed by an organization that values their people as much as they do their establishment.After gaining the knowledge and education I have obtained today, I would have addressed the issue differently and expressed my concerns in the beginning, rather than le tting valuable time pass. In situations like this I believe the consequences (both negative and positive) are worth the result. Resolving ethical dilemmas can be extremely difficult when the conflict is between personal values and the values held by the organization. In this particular dilemma, the boss seemed more worried about how big his check-book was as opposed to concern for job satisfaction, employee commitment, and organizational excellence.Concluding Thoughts Values are visible in every workplace. One of my personal values includes integrity, which is how I maintain credibility (I always make certain my actions match my words). I accept personal responsibility to use resources efficiently, improve, and help others improve. I believed that withholding such valuable information would not only hurt my confidence as manager because I questioned myself and my abilities but also cause harm to others. I believed resigning from the position would be the best way to eliminate my concerns and ultimately terminate the dilemma.