Directions

• Read the background information on Carhartt
• Choose one case from the five presented below
• Using the Steps for Making Ethical Decisions together with the background information presented, analyze the case you selected
• This should be written formally, addressing each step completely. Be specific with your analysis.

Background

Assume you are employed by Carhartt, founded by Hamilton Carhartt in 1899. It is still proudly owned and operated by the same bloodline. Headquartered in Detroit, MI, it employs 5,500 associates worldwide. Carhartt honors the shared values of hard work, dependability, honesty and trust. Carhartt believes their products are worn by the hardest working people in the workforce!

Steps for Making Ethical Decisions

1. Identify the ethical issue or problem.
2. List the facts that have the most bearing on the decision.
3. Identify anyone who might be affected by your decision and how.
4. Explain what each affected person would want you to do about the issue.
5. List three alternative actions and identify the best- and worst-case scenario for each alternative.
6. Determine a course of action.

Cases (choose one)

CASE 1: Lorna is an administrative assistant in the Human Resources Department. Her good friend, Bill, is applying for a job with the company and she has agreed to serve as a reference for him. Bill approaches her for advice on preparing for the interview. Lorna has the actual interview questions asked of all applicants and considers making him a copy of the list so he can adequately prepare.

CASE 2: Emily works in Quality Control. Once a year, her supervisor gives away the refurbished computers to the local elementary school. No specific records are kept of this type of transaction and Emily really needs a computer for her son who is in college. Her supervisor asks her to deliver 12 computer systems to the school.

CASE 3: Marvin is the secretary in the Facilities Management Department. He has just received a new computer and wants to try it out. Though his supervisor has a strict policy about computer use for business purposes only, he wants to learn the e-mail software more thoroughly than his training can provide. One good way to do this, he figures, is to write e-mail messages to his friends and relatives until he gets the knack of it. He is caught up on all his work and only has 30 minutes left to work today. His supervisor left early.

CASE 4: Richard and Conway are talking in the hallway about the employee benefits program. Conway, who has had some recent financial trouble, explains to Richard how the benefits program has a loophole that will allow him to receive some financial assistance that he really needs to help pay health care costs for his mother. Cathy, a fellow worker, overhears the conversation. Later, Cathy is approached by her supervisor who says he heard a rumor that some people were taking advantage of the company benefits program.

CASE 5: Jennie was recently hired to work as a receptionist for the front lobby. As receptionist, she is responsible for making copies for the associates. Her son, Bruce, comes in and needs some copies for a school project. He brought his own paper and needs 300 copies for his class. If he doesnt bring the copies with him, he will fail the project. The company copier does not require a security key nor do they keep track of copies made by departments.

Criteria for Success

• Identify the case you selected
• The case you select must be analyzed using the 6 steps for ethical decision making
• Analysis must be thorough and take into consideration the background information provided
• Rubric standards must be followed (see attached)