Case Scenario: Security versus Privacy

You manage a large, high-end jewelry store with an international clientele. Your workforce of 150 is demographically diverse, and your employees are trustworthy as a rule. However, you have experienced some unexplained loss of inventory and suspect a couple of employees are stealing valuable pieces, removing them from backroom storage safes and handing them off to another person somewhere in the store who leaves with them or to a third person pretending to be a customer.

To prevent this, your assistant managers are urging you to place discreet cameras in the restrooms and break rooms, where these exchanges are likely occurring. Some managers might be concerned about using cameras at all due to privacy issues; others might want to use them without notifying employees or putting up signs because they do not want to tip off the suspects or deal with the negative reaction of the workforce (although that brings up invasion of privacy issues). You are weighing the pros of catching the thieves against the possible loss of other employees' trust.

- Answer the following Questions,(7 Marks)

• What would be the ethical dilemma in this case?
• What issues must you confront as you decide whether you will take the recommendation of your assistant managers?
• What, ultimately, will you do? Explain your decision.

1) The ethical dilemma here is a matter of surveillance vs privacy. Employers will pay stakeholders (employees, suppliers, service providers etc.) that they can depend on for their time and to complete key responsibilities. When a company finds they can no longer depend on an individual or outside company to complete the aforementioned task, it is imperative for the company to take action.

2) The issue that comes up with the management teams recommendation is that not only does the action severely impact the employees privacy, it opens up the company to litigation. This is an avoidable liability and another form of action must be taken. There are also laws in Canada that prevent employers from placing cameras in areas such as washrooms, changerooms etc.

3) First and foremost, I would flat out deny the recommendation made by the management team. My method would be to introduce half-day inventory tracking practices. This involves management and staff conducting a full store inventory of all items at shift change i.e. the opening manager and team member will count the closing teams inventory and the closing manager and team member will count the opening teams inventory. In addition, I as the GM would conduct random inventory checks to match the count that the closing team has provided. Any time that the counts do not match, we can question the employee and manager as to what may have happened (with a HR rep as witness).

When theft occurs, it is important to narrow down the search for the culprit(s) with a paper-trail and evidence. Workplace politics and staff favourites may affect judgement. There may even be a possibibilty that the assistant managers are involved and using the hourly staff as scapegoats. This may cost money, but this is the most effective method to applying a long-term solution.

Can someone please provide areply about your perspective of these answers? (just one paragraph) I would appreciate for it