Concept explainers
As the owner of a small factory that makes plastic sheeting, you are constantly seeking ways to increase profits. As the new year begins, one of your goals is to find additional funds to offer annual productivity and/or merit bonuses to your loyal, hardworking employees.
Then a letter from a large national manufacturer of shower curtains seems to provide an answer. As part of a new "supplier diversity" program it is putting in place, the manufacturer is offering substantial purchase contracts to minority-owned suppliers. Even though the letter clearly states that the business must be minority owned to qualify for the program, you convince yourself to apply for based on the fact that all your employees are Latino. You justify your decision by deciding they will benefit from the increased revenue a larger contract will bring, son-'e of which you plan to pass on to them in the form of bonuses later in the year.
Using a web search tool, locate articles about this topic, and then write responses to the following questions. Be sure to support your arguments and cite your sources.
Ethical Dilemma: Is it wrong for this business owner to apply for this program even though it will end up benefiting his employees as well as his business?
To explain:
Whether it is ethical for the owner to apply for a scheme targeted at minorities.
Introduction:
The concept of ethics stands in between the two extremes of codified law and personal freedom. It refers to what is as correct behavior based on the society's interpretation. As and when society interprets things differently, what is once the standard for ethics can change over time, for example, slavery in the 18th century or smoking in the 19th century.
Explanation of Solution
The ethical dilemma in this case is the fact that the owner is trying to do something which can be considered as questionable. A business owner cannot apply for a scheme that is not qualified for the greater good of its employees. So, the question is that social norms can be broken provided they benefit a larger number of people. However, the justification for the same is required.
A point that needs to be considered here is that, even though the owner is not a minority there is no rule that says that non-minorities cannot apply. At the end of the day, it is the customer's responsibility to evaluate applicants and award the contract to the one that fits the criteria.
Therefore, a business owner one can argue that the owner is not breaking any ethical standards but merely testing the chances of being selected. If selected, the owner gets the opportunity to improve the business and can also provide an additional income to its employees.
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