Job-Related Questions in Ethics
(from the Hoffberger Center at the University of Baltimore)

For each scenario:

• list the options open to you.
• state what decision you think is the right one.
• justify your decision. Explain why you have chosen this decision.

1. You know of a co-worker who is stealing supplies at work: paper, staplers, tape dispensers, hole-punchers, scissors, ink cartridges, folders, and envelopes. He justifies this by saying, “Everyone does it; it’s kind of a fringe benefit for low pay.” What do you do?
   
2. You work in the accounting department of your company and learn that a customer has been overcharged $100 per month. The customer has not yet caught the error. Nevertheless, you bring the matter to the attention of your supervisor, and you are nicely told to mind your own business. It is apparent that nothing will be done about the past overcharge and that there may be additional overcharges in the future. You know that your supervisor does not like to be challenged on any point and has reacted vindictively in the past against those who opposed her. What do you do?
   
3. After buying two CD’s at Best Buy, you realize, after coming home, that the checker only charged you for one CD. What do you do? Would your decision be different if your younger brother or sister knew that you had received a “free” CD? Would your decision be different if you knew the checker?
   
4. You are returning a book to an associate at work who is not in her office at the time. You happen to glance at her computer screen and notice, from the e-mail that is open, that she is engaged in business activities using the computer. As you read on, you realize that this activity is an ongoing and extensive project, not a solitary event. This activity is clearly against company policy. What should you do?

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