Ethics now plays an integral role in individual life as well as that of an organization. However, according to Monteverde (2009), ethical decision-making is always perceived by many people as a complex process that cannot be executed easily. As a result, there are many approaches to ethical decision-making that people can use to solve an ethical dilemma. The first approach is known as the rights approach, which is mainly associated with Immanuel Kant. According to Kant and other proponents of the approach, it is essential to consider the interests of other affected people when making decisions. The second approach is the utilitarian approach, which states that actions or decisions are ethical when they result in the greatest good to many people. Thirdly, the virtue approach is based on the notion that people should strive to achieve certain ideals in their decision-making or action they take. The approach focuses on some virtues or attitudes that a person must always uphold. Finally, there is the fairness approach that emphasizes the people should be treated equally. The approaches can be effectively be used to address ethical dilemmas in the decision-making process.
However, I feel that the rights approach that works best in solving ethical dilemmas because it is sensitive to the interests or needs of people who are involved in a conflict. The approach is based on the philosophy that human beings have dignity and the capability to make decisions freely ( Bowen, 2005) . Thus, people have fundamental moral rights to have their choices or decisions respected. At the same time, people other fundamental rights like the right to know the truth and privacy rights. According to Kant, a decision is morally right if people affected are not used as instruments for advancing personal goals. Therefore, it is important to actively involve all affected people in the decision-making process while ensuring that they are adequately informed. The rights approach can be used to address many ethical dilemmas.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
One of the most common ethical issues that are common in many workplaces is the use of employer’s resources to conduct personal businesses. Currently, companies are using modern technologies like cell phones, computers, and the internet to improve their operations ( Yerby, 2013) . Hence, it is common for employees to use such technologies to do things that are not related to the assigned jobs, especially during working time. Company internet, for instance, has become one of the major time-wasters in many workplaces, as employees spend a lot of time chatting with colleagues and friends through various social media platforms ( Yerby, 2013) . Many companies now face a lot of ethical dilemma concerning the use of modern technologies in the workplace.
The rights approach can be used to address the ethical dilemma that is common in modern workplaces. The use of an employer's resources such as the internet for personal business affects employees and organizations. Even though using the employer's resources for personal business may have a negative impact on the organization, employers must acknowledge and respect employees’ fundamental rights ( Yerby, 2013) . Employers cannot implement policies that infringe rights to privacy of employees. The decision to prevent the abuse of employers’ resources for personal business should benefit both the employer and workers. Therefore, employers should develop a policy that requires employees to only utilize the internet and cell phones for personal use during break times unless it is extremely urgent. The decision is beneficial to both employers and employees.
Finally, the resolution that is suggested by the approach is valid because it addresses the interest of all affected parties. Sometimes the use of employers’ resources like cell phones is inevitable, especially when there is an emergency. Hence, employers should have a flexible policy that allows employees to utilize resources for personal use without having a significant impact on their productivity. The rights approach can be used to address ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
References
Bowen, S. A. (2005). A practical model for ethical decision making in issues management and public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research , 17 (3), 191-216.
Monteverde, S. (2009). The importance of time in ethical decision making. Nursing Ethics , 16 (5), 613-624.
Yerby, J. (2013). Legal and ethical issues of employee monitoring. Online Journal of Applied Knowledge Management , 1 (2), 44-55.
