Senior managers in our organization are concerned about internal theft. Your department has been assigned the task of writing an ethics policy that defines employee theft and prescribes penalties. Stealing goods is easily classified as theft, but other activities are more ambiguous. Before writing the policy, go through the following list and decide which behaviors should be defined as stealing and whether penalties should apply. Discuss the items with your department members until reaching agreement. Classify each items as an example of (1) theft, (2) acceptable behavior, or (3) in between with respect to written policy. Is it theft when an employee

- Gets paid for overtime not worked?

- Takes a longer lunch or coffee break than authorized?

- Punches a time card for another?

- Comes in late or leaves early?

- Fakes injury to receive workers' compensation?

- Takes care of personal business on company time?

- Occasionally uses company copying machines or makes long- distance telephone calls for personal purposes?

- Takes a few stamps, pens, or other supplies for personal use?

- Takes money from the petty cash drawer?

- Uses company vehicles or tools for his or her own purposes but returns them?

- Damages merchandise so a cohort can purchase it at a discount?

- Accepts a gift from a supplier?

Now consider those items rated "in between". Do these items represent ethical issues as a defined in chapter 4? How should these items be handled in the company's written policy?