a An Ethical Dilemma* Stacy, a recently hired employee of a growing local CPA morning, a memo surfaced stating that all staff doing firm called Dewey, Cheatume, and Howe, just passed interviews for new hires were to present the firm in a all four parts of the CPA exam. The partners had high positive and favorable manner. Stacy was one of those expectations for Stacy because she scored near the top of staff members conducting the interviews. her graduating class. As a result, Stacy was fast-tracked Stacy did not know how to portray the firm in and performed at an advanced level on some jobs. This a positive manner when she was so miserable. She was due, in part, to her excellent skill set and also particularly disliked Enzo. It seemed to Stacy that Enzo because of heavy firm turnover at the senior level made it his mission to forment her by criticizing her every Because of the long hours and her inexperience, move. He hovered around her desk and made comments Stacy started to make simple errors such as not meeting about making sure not to mess up again. time budgets. She began working off the clock because After getting advice from one of her coworkers, Stacy she did not want management to know she had a hard decided to approach Enzo about his behavior. He did not time handling the workload. After a few months, she take it well casually mentioned the extra hours to a coworker, who "Look, if you think I'm being too hard on you, then told her working off the clock is considered unethical, maybe you should just leave," Enzo responded. It's and the company has strict policies against it. Stacy was obvious you are not cut out for this business." Enzo not only embarrassed but also upset that the company continued to berate Stacy for her "shoddy work never made this known to her--particularly since she - you want to make it in this business, you have to knew her immediate supervisor was aware of what she know when to pick your fights. Me, I'm not in the habit of was doing Stacy stopped working off the clock and began losing. Enzo said as he walked off in a huff. to work more quickly to get things done in the expected The next day. Stacy was to interview someone for a time frame Jower-level accounting position. As she walked down the A few weeks ago, Stacy learned her recent work on hallway, Enzo approached her. a tax return had to be redone because she mistakenly 1 hear you're going to be interviewing a new charged the wrong client for the return. Enzo, one of the candidate today. Just remember, make this company look partners. publicly reprimanded her by saying, "Next time good. No whining about your bad work experience." it's.coming out of your paycheck Stacy contained her anger when she entered the Later that same week, as Stacy helped interview a room and sat down in front of the candidate She did her candidate for one of the open accounting positions, she best to act professional and stifle her emotions. The real accidentally chipped the glass table in the conference dilemma came when the candidate asked about the firm's room. When Enzo heard about it, he said, "You'll need culture and how Stacy personally liked working there. She to speak to the secretary and get this repaired on your swallowed. She did not know how to sugarcoat her answer dime without making it an outright lie Over the following months, the firm continued to experience high turnover rates. It became so problematic QUESTIONS EXERCISES that the senior board requested a psychologist interview all staff members When Stacy was interviewed she described the poor treatment of employees and 2. What type of conflict management style does Enzo unreasonable expectations. Apparently, other employees have? Are there more constructive ways for him to had the same complaint. The resulting report from handie conflicts with employees the consultant pointed toward numerous management 3. Describe the alternatives Stacy has in order to answer problems at the company. Shortly thereafter, the partners the candidate's question and list the advantages and responded in a way the staff did not expect: They took disadvantages of each the report personally. As a result, rumors began to surface that the firm was going to go up for sale. Still, This the interviews for staff positions continued. One Monday corso
