Abstract
The essay will focus on a case “AM I ETHICAL?” to determine whether the decision made by the client was appropriate. The first part will decide whether it would be appropriate to call the hotline and report the raised concern and then focus on the difference between my response and that of the author. Next, the paper will identify the confidential information from the case and reasons the client would want the information to remain private.
Whether or Not to Call the Hotline to Report the Concerns
I would not call the hotline to report my concerns because; it is evident that I learned about the violation at the advertising agency while rendering my professional services. Additionally, due to the issues related to confidentiality reasons, it would be important that I do not contact the hotline. Therefore it would be important that I discuss my concerns with regards to the situation of the clients with the business owner and then offer advice on the possibility that this might be a violation of the minimum wage laws. Based on the notion that the advertising company is not one of the public companies, it is evident that the confidentiality agreement would bind me. It is clear that the confidentiality agreement plays a core role since it allows clients to speak openly without any form of judgment (Brown, 2000). Further, based on my concerns that the activity experienced in the company my significantly affects the reputation of the client if the information is to be uncovered, I would take the initiative to advise the management of the possible violation and its consequences.
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Differences between my Response and the Author's Answer
Based on the case, the author might not be willing to have the client to be affected negatively; however, he knows that the company has violated the minimum wage laws. The author thus determined the information to be highly confidential hence should not be disclosed with the client’s permission. Based on my assessment; it would be important first to analyze the issue of wages. I will inform them of potential consequences that the firm might experience if an audit is to be carried out. Therefore, with the support of other partners, I would speak with the client focusing on the current benefits and the future consequences of failure to follow appropriate minimum wage laws. The best theory for this case is virtue ethics where the decisions tend to revolve around the moral character or even virtue of an individual. Upon sharing with the rest of the partners, it would be a combination of virtue ethics and the deontological ethics. The deontological ethics in the decision making is expressly founded on a person’s duty or the right and wrong. Evidently, there are minimum wage laws that ought to be followed as established by the regulations (Brown, 2000).
Confidential Information
Based on the scenario, it is clear that the confidential information is related to the rate of pay for the models. The models are underpaid despite having worked for long hours, but the organization would not wish that this information gets out to the public. Evidently, the unpaid activities in the agency are not included in their confidential information since the information would have been publicized by the agency in their advertisement of the job vacancy. In addition to this, the hours that the company’s clients spend doing their duties are also part of highly confidential information (Klein, 2015).
Why the Client Wishes the Information to Remain Undisclosed
The client would want to keep the information private and remain undisclosed because; it is evident that it might negatively affect the company’s operation and reputation. When the information is revealed, the members of the public would be able to understand the situation and view them as a firm that employs models for less than what the legal wage requires it (Klein, 2015). Therefore, in the event the information is disclosed, then it is highly possible that the client might end up losing the business and be subject to an audit for the determination whether they have been engaging in the acts that violate the law. Further, the agency might lose some of its reliable investors particularly if they were operating in a publicly traded company. There are higher chances that they might lose some of their loyal customers who advocate for human rights and better wages.
References
Brown, M. T. (2000). Working ethics: Strategies for decision making and organizational responsibility.
Klein, G. (2015). Ethics in Accounting: A Decision-making Approach . John Wiley & Sons.
