Personal Ethical Issue: Advising Employees Affected by Layoffs - Essay Example

As much as layoffs are not a desirable state of the organization, it is always important for the employer to communicate to the employees about it openly instead of letting them get to learn about it through rumors and other means (Business & Legal Reports, Inc., 2009). In the case of the employee who comes for advice amidst such layoff rumors, I would advise them by doing the following:

• Provide honest and accurate information regarding the layoff to the affected employee. First, it is important to clarify whether the rumor regarding the impending layoff is true or false. Second, I would clarify the reasons and benefits of the payoff to both the employee and the organization. Third, I would help the employee to gain an understanding of the picture of the company following a layoff. Fourth, I would let the employee know how the layoff will take play; whether it is temporary, permanent, or in phases. Lastly, I would let the employee know whether there would be any financial resources and support provided in case of layoff. The Provision of accurate information will enable the employees to feel that they are valued, are kept in the loop, and that they participate in the decision that affects their lives.
• Once the employee has attained a clear picture of the situation, I would seek to gather information on how he or she perceives the upcoming layoff. This information is critical because it will enable me to understand how the employee is affected by the layoff rumor, whether this is likely to affect the performance of the ongoing project, issues affecting the employee during the planned layoff, and whether the employee has already had job offers elsewhere.
• After getting the perspective of the employee, I would try to manage his attitudes and behavior about the layoff. I would let the employee know that he or she is very important to the organization although the layoff is inevitable. I would advise the employee to finish the project at hand until the planned layoff. It would be important for the employee to leave a good reputation because he or she would be contacted again in the future when the conditions have improved. I would encourage the employee to take advantage of the new opportunity but ask for a waiting period until the current employer clears her. This would keep the employee’s integrity and respect intact.
• Finally, I would let the employee know that the organization would offer them support during the layoff period. Support will mainly be in terms of relevant programs and forums for change management, referral for new job openings, and other programs such as freelance assignments that would keep the employee engaged until the end of the planned layoff.

World Major Ethical Issues

Relation with stakeholders

 Ethical issues arise when organizations engage in misrepresentation or provide stakeholders with information that is not credible. A good example relates to how the APPLE Company handled its communication regarding the health of the CEO, Steve Jobs, to the media, customers, and shareholders. The company with-health the health status of the CEO and only came out to talk about it after rumors and leaked information had caused havoc in the media, among the shareholders and the customers (Krazit, 2009). The health information regarding employees of the organization is a personal issue that needs to be handled with privacy. However, the way the APPLE Company handled the health conditions of Steve Jobs was not appropriate as this placed the corporate image of the company at risk. In addition to this, it allowed rumors regarding the ability of the then CEO, Jobs, to continue running the company for which he had single-handedly brought back into profits following serious financial problems. Apart from this, the possible incapacitation of Jobs had a serious impact on the customers of the company, the shareholders, and Wall Street who were worried about the possible implications of hid health on their investments.

Relations with customers

Relations between a company and consumers may usually raise ethical issues. This is especially the case when companies fail to provide accurate information to the consumers about the nature of the products offered and a justification for the level of pricing for such products in order to ensure the safety and health of the consumers. A good example is a way Mcdonald's handled the ethical issues surrounding the nutrition and health implications of their products to their target customers. Critics argue that the products offered by Mcdonald's have been at the forefront in promoting obesity among its consumers. Some of the accusations leveled against the company include failure to provide accurate nutritional advice to customers and promotion of unhealthy eating habits. In the year 2002, a legal proceeding was brought against the company on behalf of two young children in New York; McDonald was accused of providing misleading information to young consumers regarding the nutrition of its products. The litigation was, however, dismissed for lack of credible information. In the year 2005, McDonald appealed and it was allowed to implement some strategies perceived to be promoting deceptive advertising. The way the issue was handled raises some concerns about the company. Although they won the suit, the impacts of the legal proceedings will daunt their corporate image forever and may likely affect the credibility of the company in the future (Gangone, 2010).