Ethical Moment: The Workplace Health and Safety Violation Case of Wal-Mart
Executive Summary
Wal-Mart is constantly violating workplace health and safety standards and due to this violation, employees had to scarify their lives. Despite these violations, the organization is still considered ethical and successful because the followers (employees) rather refusing to work in such an unethical environment, contributed to unethical practices of the company and did not refuse to work at the place. They had the authority, and they should have taken some actions against the unethical practice of the firm. It has been recommended that for preventing themselves from further health and safety hazards, followers should have to use their powers and have to change the unethical culture through challenging unethical practices of the organization (Johnson, 2012).
What Happened?
Recently at Wal-Mart, it has been determined that the company is violating the workplace health and safety rules due to which multiple employees or followers have to sacrifice their lives (Hardcastle, 2016; Obernauer, 2016). The organization is recognized for its product quality and environmental initiatives but lacking in the area of health and safety of the workplace. The employees or followers of the company are contributing the business to make it a success. At this place, followers should have resisted from accepting the unethical behavior and should have stopped working at an unsafe place and demand compliance with OHSA laws.
What Is Right?
Now the power of followers is increasing, and leaders’ power is decreasing; followers rather accepting the unethical behaviors of leaders should resist them and should avoid obeying them (Johnson, 2012). Employees at Wal-Mart before being a part of the unethical act by following the instruction of management should have thought that they are doing either good or bad (Johnson, 2012).
It is difficult for employees to decide on that what to disobey; following authorities lead employees towards immoral and illegal activities; it happened with Wal-Mart employees (Johnson, 2012). However, Wal-Mart united warehouse went on strike due to it health and safety violations, which is an example of followers refusal to accept the orders of employers.
What Is Wrong?
Most of the employees at Wal-Mart because of their self-interest continue to work with the organization and did not take any measure to correct the management and did not resists to accept their unethical orders of working at hazardous places and in a hazardous situation (Johnson, 2012). At Wal-Mart, workers could not walk on the fine line that exists between healthy skepticism that could prevent them from unhealthy cynicism and exploitation. That was the place where followers of Wal-Mart including customers should have taken a stance against the workplace health and safety violations, but they did not do anything against the unethical attitude of repetition of OHSA (Occupational health and safety administration) rules violation, which was the wrong attitude of followers (Johnson, 2012).
Recommendations and Conclusion
Organizations have to pay a high price when their followers do not speak and hide issues; it happened with Wal-Mart (Johnson, 2012). The organization had to face huge penalties, as workers did not communicate the barriers that came into the way of performing their duties safely. This attitude of followers failed organization in addressing system deficiencies and health and safety hazards increased (Johnson, 2012). Employees of Wal-Mart should lead themselves and raise voice against unethical practices. The organization for overcoming from this situation should offer their followers to use their courageous conscience and employees should understand that they are at the organization to make the job of managers easy not hard in the shape of penalties (Johnson, 2012). Followers of Wal-Mart should have the courage to challenge the unethical behavior and leave the organization if it does not avoid unethical practices (Johnson, 2012). If followers do not have the power to agree management to accept their demands, they should make a labor union and should challenge the practices through it. It will help employees from further losing their lives and prevent workers for the hazardous situation (Johnson, 2012).
References
Hardcastle, J. L. (2016). Wal-Mart ‘Failed to Protect Employees from Serious Hazards,’ OSHA Says. Business Sector Media, LLC. Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/03/23/walmart-failed-to-protect-employees-from-serious-hazards-osha-says/
Johnson, C. E. (2012). Organizational Ethics: A Practical Approach. USA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Obernauer, C. (2015). On Wal-Mart’s Watch: A Seemingly Endless Health and Safety Catastrophe. The Huffington Post.com, Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charlene-obernauer/on-walmarts-watch-a-seemi_b_6913946.html
