The story by Moye (2019) is one that raises both moral and ethical concerns on how businesses supposedly ‘promote’ and ‘support’ good morals and business ethics while at the same time practicing unethical behaviors against their customers. According to Moye (2019), a local Taco Bell in Louisville, Kentucky is accused by a woman of discrimination after the woman accompanied by a group of homeless people were kicked out before she could buy them dinner. The random act of kindness by Shannon Gridley to a group of 20 homeless people turned south after a security guard began to question one of the homeless people hence prompting her intervention (Moye, 2019).
Moye (2019) further establishes that the Gridley, together with the 20 homeless people, was eventually ordered to leave the local Taco Bell before they could receive or even request their meals. This act angered Gridley not only because the 20 people were homeless but also because she had offered to pay for their meals in full. Notably, this act goes against utilitarianism which, according to Piacquadio (2017), determines between right and wrong by putting more focus on the outcomes of any particular action. Piacquadio (2017) states that utilitarianism holds the belief that the most moral choice is one that encourages activities that maximize the well-being and happiness for the highest number of people. For example, the offer by Gridley to buy food for the 20 homeless people is intended to promote their happiness and well-being. However, contrary to the offer and commitment by Gridley to fulfill her promise to the homeless people, the actions by the employees at the local Taco Bell, including to send Gridley and the homeless people away, is unethical and against the business code of conduct. According to the Gridley, the security guard and other employees at the local Taco Bell went ahead and even prevented the homeless people from using the washroom to clean their hands before eating.
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In conclusion, ethics demands that the actions of people, and in this case, Gridley's offer to the 20 homeless people, should always be intended to create happiness and promote the well-being of other people. However, the actions by the employees at the local Taco Bell shows the unethical side of most businesses. The decision by the employees at the local Taco Bell goes against the utilitarianism, which encourages people to act in ways that can promote happiness and the well-being of other people.
References
Moye, D. (2019). Woman Was Buying Dinner For Homeless People When Taco Bell Kicked Them Out. Huffpost. Retrieved 14 September 2019, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/taco-bell-homeless-shannon-gridley_n_5d7bd01be4b00d690597f69e
Piacquadio, P. G. (2017). A fairness justification of utilitarianism. Econometrica , 85 (4), 1261-1276.
