Luke works for ABC Company. ABC wants to develop an adult entertainment retail store near Owen’s residence. Owen is a brother to Luke who is involved in the project. Owen is contemplating to sell the house and so far he has gotten great offers. Owen is not aware ABC Company’s company project and its impact on property value upon being announced to public. ABC plans to make public its intention in a week’s time. Luke is ware of the project and its projected impact in property value.
Should Luke tell his brother or keep company’s confidential information? This is an ethical dilemma Luke is confronted with. If Luke choses to keep company secrets, he will not be sacked and ABC will not suffer. If Owen later come to know Luke was aware of the likely fall in property prices, he might get angry with Luke. On the other hand, Luke can reveal to his brother about the project and likely impact on his property. His brother will view Luke as caring and concerned. However, if the company discover Luke leaked confidential information, he might be punished.
In the golden rule, Luke should do to anyone what he himself wish to be done to him in a similar situation. On one hand, Luke should keep ABC’s secrets since if he was the owner, he will find it bad for an employee to leak confidential information. In this circumstance, Luke should keep the company’s secret information. If Luke was in the position of Owen, he would have wished his brother to inform him. In this case Luke should inform his brother. When golden rule is applied, the best Luke can do is to keep the company’s confidential information. If he was the owner of the company, he would wish his employees to keep company’s secrets.
In virtue ethics, Luke should do what is viewed as actions of people with good characters such as being caring, sympathetic, and honest. All whatever he does should be reflected in his character. If he chooses to keep company secret, his actions would be viewed as unfair, uncaring, and selfish towards Owen. However, if he chooses to reveal ABC’s secrets, he will be viewed as a careless person who is not loyal to the company. In either case, he must make a decision based on a broad consideration of issues. Luke should behave a prudent, just, and person who demonstrates self-care. By invoking virtue ethics, the best idea in this dilemma is to protect the interest of the company by not disclosing what he knows about the project and its impact on property markets. He has to stay true to his character. Luke has no reason to be angry with Luke because Luke is bound by his employer’s terms and conditions and he might face disciplinary measures if it is known that he leaked company secrets.
Re: The Golden Rule and Virtue Ethics Theories
Ethics in this company are highly regarded and all employees are expected to make judgments based on ethical perspective. The purpose of this memo is therefore to inform you about the need to understand the golden rule and virtue ethics.
The golden rule holds that people should do things to others which they themselves can accept if done to them. Virtue ethics holds that people should virtuously. It means that people ought to act or make judgments which reflect their true moral character. For example, employees are expected to keep company’s confidential information. Anyone who reveals confidential information to other parties would be regarded as unethically person.
Following this, it is highly recommended that you get to keep in mind the following:
All actions of employees will be considered right if such actions would be carried out by a virtuous person under similar situation
A virtuous employee is one who acts virtuously
An employee is said to be virtuous if they possess and live by virtues.
Each employee to understand that cardinal virtues include: justice, fidelity, self-care, and prudence.
When making ethical decisions, employees are expected to consider the broader context.
Next, every employee is expected to familiarize him/herself about golden rule and virtue ethics theories. Anyone found guilty of not practicing these two theories of ethics will be punished. This include employees who are selfish, uncaring, unjust, and unfair.
It is my hope that by adhering to these two ethical theories, we will develop a strong organizational culture of shared values. Let us all work to ensure we create environment around us where everyone trust, respect, and love each other.
