Ethical Dilemma - Research Paper Example

Ethical dilemma Introduction An ethical dilemma, also referred to, as the moral dilemma is that brings two situations that are demands for a resolution but in either way the decision is made, it has to be short of something that will lead to consequences. The morals obligations or precepts in this case conflicts to the extent that reaching a convincing conclusion is intolerable. This informs that in the situation of ethical dilemma, the stipulated moral guiding cannot be used to logically determine which course is right and which one is not; whichever action taken, there has to be a wrong and a justified reason for the same. Moral dilemmas have different origins and depend on the source, they can be classified as those from moral uncertainty, self-imposed, world imposed and those that are prohibitory in nature (Garber 29). Given the nature of the moral dilemma, one can take a position regarding the situation that will present itself to him and opt to defend the action with other morals but the fact remains that the explanation cannot be fully construed to be a justification of the action. It can only be considered just as a better explanation that can be considered the best next alternative forgone. The Moral Dilemma I have been involved in a difficult situation of ethical dilemma in which pitched me in a very precarious situation in making a decision. This was necessitated by the advent of emails that has really created new grounds for ethical dilemma regarding information access and the corresponding privacy. It is a common knowledge that accessing someone’s email without their consent is in itself infringing on the person right to privacy and that itself is a violation of regulation in most of the places that equally prohibits illegal access to ones mails. This is the situation that I found myself in and I had to make a decision out of the tricky situation. For a brief period, one of the major Casinos hired me to be one of their data analysts and I had to work alongside others in the Casino regarding the work that I was to be doing. In the Casino, I made a friendship with some of the employees in the Casino that I use to work with, in the department of data analysis; we became friends that we did most of the things together and openly riding on the absolute trust that we have built for quite a period. One of the principal regulations that we undertook to during the acceptance of the contract is that no engaging in the gambling process as an employee of the Casino, particularly those involved in the data analysis. This was particularly such because we used to work for the data and that engaging in gambling would lead to direct conflicts of interest (Garber 31). The same Casino has a very stringent policy regarding privacy of mails and personal information and encroaching into a fellow employee’s personal information is not tolerated. Most importantly again is the fact that the management of the Casino is very strict about deadlines that if it passes you become liable for any los that might be incurred. On a certain day, I was engaged in a certain project that was very critical to the company before the 6pm and it was past normal working hours, all the employees had left. I later realized that some of the critical data I needed for the completion of the work were in Tony’s computer (Tony is a colleagues in the work place). I then decided to log into my friends computer so that I can send myself the data again into my computer and proceed with the project to completion given its criticality, though I knew that it was wrong to access an employee’s system without his consent. I did log into the account and sent the part of the data that I needed but before I could log out, I saw a mail that Tony has been exchanging with others over gambling process and read the email (Garber 33). After reading the message, it was clear the Tony was engaging in the gambling process against the company’s requirement as a data analyst and t would be disastrous for him to be found guilty of that, he risks losing his job and could face a lawsuit for violation the core company’s regulation for the employees. For the time, I picked the data and proceeded with the project so that I could beat the deadline, I was particularly released that I was able to obtain the information I very much needed to complete the project but I also regretted having learnt that my friend was in a clear contravention of the company’s policies. The Ethical Dilemma that Manifested As a responsible person who adheres to the company’s policies and regulation, I thought that Tony was unfair to engage in the gambling process because he stood a several chances of winning bets given his status in the company. He would have complete conflicts of interest to handle issues of the company in a professional manner, and that is why the company thought it wise to cushion its employees for the conflict of interest that comes with engaging in the gambling process as a data analyst. Notwithstanding, my course was also faced with several challenges, to put my case forward, I would have to admit that I logged into Tony’s mail without his consent and that it how I became privy to the information about the gambling process that has been going on for some time. This is also obviously against the companies regulations that require employees to appreciate and adhere to the principle of confidentiality of mails and information. I was faced with difficult option to take, regarding this matter because in either way, even warning him (Tony) not to bet, I have to admit that I logged into his email account. My Resolution and Justification Following the incidence that ensued, I found obliged to report the issue to the administration of the Casino so that Tony would be dealt with appropriately. It was in my understanding that all of us in a critical examination were guilty of an offence but thought that my case could be heard differently given the following. In as much as I got into another colleague’s private messages, I did not use that privilege otherwise except to furnish the administration about the malpractice that has been going on and that can led to the serious repercussions if left to continue. I weighed the guilt both in my side and in Tony’s side and realized, that mine bore no threat to the integrity of the Casino as compared to Tony’s. Whereas it was unethical to access other mails in their absence, mine was special in that it accessed information that if not attended to, may make the whole Casino to crumble. It was thus necessary that the information be taken to the administration so that Tony would be subjected to the disciplinary process as stipulated by the Casino. It would have been absurd, if I held the information while I know the wrong that is going on, this could only be possible if I was also involved in any malice when logging into Tony’s email. As started above, I knew of the email password inadvertently, that simply means that I was not motivated by anything to have access to the password. In deed even after the transfer of the materials that I wanted and reading the mail that showed Tony’s involvement in gambling, I did nothing in the mail but to log off and continue with the project. This I believe was a sense of responsibility and trust and should be construed in its context-I had no ill motive when accessing the information in Tony’s mail. I was ready to put my job on line just to save the image of the Casino by making them aware of an ongoing activity that could bring them down in more than one way. If that would also lead to subjecting me to disciplinary cases, I would not mind because it was clear in my conscience that I had nothing negative about accessing my friends mail and if anything the consequences of not availing the important information would have been detrimental that giving it to them. Nothing could have been solved, Tony would have continued with the illegal precise and myself not known to have violated the company regulation that governs relation of the employees. Al least, I convinced myself that even if all of us are found guilty, the most important thing will be the fact that no other illegal deal is going on in the Casino at least in the two of us. In the dilemma, the Casino later took us through the company policy and reinstated us keeping the person who gave them the information a covert so that our relationship with Tony as employees would not be deteriorated. Work Cited Garber, Peter R.. The ethical dilemma. Amherst, Mass.: HRD Press, 2008. Print. Read More