Ethical Dilemma: Part 1

This is the part one of a new series Ethical Dilemma. In this series you’ll find some common situations which will make you think. You’ll have to make some ethical decisions in this series which will help you to have a better understanding of the ethics you believe in. I hope you will also develop your reasoning skill through this.
Your ethics depends on YOU

Here is your first ethical dilemma:

Suppose you are doing a project outside of your work. The project will need paper, pens and other materials available at work. You have noticed other employees taking home such materials. You are thinking about doing the same. What is the problem in this situation? What are your alternatives? What are the consequences of each alternative? Which alternative will you choose? Is your choice ethical?

Related Post: Ethics of Justice or ethics of care

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11 comments:

  1. Seems interesting... can you explain that a bit more? See, in a corporate scenario, if the policy suggests, we can use, we should! Why not!But in most cases there are no well defined set of rules and regulations. So, it will depend on the situation! My answer would be both a 'yes' and a 'no'.

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  2. চিন্তার বিষয়। আপনার ব্লগের কনটেন্ট বেশ রিচ। চিন্তাশীল লেখা। মন্তব্য করার আগে একটু ভেবে নিতেই হবে।

    aR
    Bangla Hacks

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  3. @Chiranjib, Let's just say that nothing was said about using staff. what will be hte alternatives then?

    @aR, Thanks for the compliment. and i must say that you are the first commentator to comment on Bangla. :)

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  4. Suppose you are doing a project outside of your work.

    Theft is theft and rationalizing it doesn't change that. I don't steal.

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  5. @TT, thanks for your opinion. no matter how much we try to rationalize stealing, it will be "stealing".

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  6. Hi Irtiza,

    Well, since the project is outside of work, using work materials (to me) would be unethical so I would not use material from my place of business--at least not without asking permission.

    If I couldn't afford to pay for the materials I needed--and say, it was a good cause (the project), I would probably ask my employer if he/she would make a donation to the cause. If he said no, then I might ask if I could buy the material from them for cost and have the $$ taken out of my paycheck.

    If I couldn't afford the material--then I would not do the project. Taking material from work is essentially stealing and I wouldn't do that.

    Melinda

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  7. @Melinda, Thanks for explaining.

    actually this is similar to my view too. if the authorities dont mind borrowing stuff from office, i wont mind too. but I don't think it should be practiced every now and then.

    But IMO the most important thing is, I'd never use office materials for outside projects without extreme circumstances. but if it were a project for the office, and i required to work in my house, i dont think there would be much of a problem taking stuff home for the project and returning them after finishing.

    irtiza104

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  8. Hi Irtiza--well, it's a different story if the project is one for work. Then, I do think you should be able to use materials to complete it. I'm such a stickler that I would probably ask the employer for permission to take the stuff home. Just in case!

    Melinda

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  9. you may visit Bangla Help to know something about Bangla writing.

    Thanks

    aR
    Bangla Hacks

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  10. The fact that you view it as a dilema shows that you know it is wrong. What other people do doesn't make it right.

    "Borrowing stuff" is OK - but don't forget that someone has to pay for it all - probably you in the form of a pay rise that you probably won't get...

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