Moral Problem Paper - Essay Example

However, the ethical questions raised by the CEO relate to the work structure, expectations for the sales and the functions that are within the business. Background and Facts The difficulties with the Wal – Mart store and the overall functions are known to relate to the overall structure of the group and the way that it works with customers and with employees. The store is renowned for the work structure that is not able to support those working in the front lines. This begins with a lack of compensation that is given to workers, sweat shops that are used to produce the different items and the inability to meet needs of those that are working for the company.

The structure is known to consist of employees that are required to work seven days a week or overtime to make enough from the company. At the same time, the company is known to offer welfare to the workers, specifically because it doesn’t pay enough to those who are working within the structure. The problems with the structure continue with known buybacks, which recently consists of over $15 billion in stocks, specifically which is going to the CEO and other top executives, as opposed to those who are working within the company (Gogoi, 1).

The current situation of Wal – Mart is one that is now being followed by the new CEO, Mike Duke. The president was brought into the company in 2009, specifically with the last CEO stepping down before being caught up in the controversies of the employment and other factors relating to morality. At this time, labor unions and others were beginning to protest against the employment at Wal – Mart, which was causing a loss in sales from preceding years. The main issue which Duke is being presented with is to save the image of Wal – Mart and to begin changing the reputation of the unfair treatment of employees both in the United States and abroad.

The question which is now being looked into is how Duke will work with the ethical complexities which were left behind, specifically with the lost money and the lack of employee rights that have caused the business of Wal – Mart to begin losing the reputation it once had for low prices (Kapner, 1). Utilitarian Analysis The approach which Duke is facing is one which is based on restructuring the belief that the treatment of employees and the overall structure of the company are immoral. The time before Duke was a part of Wal – Mart led to actions from labor unions and spotlights on how the workers didn’t receive enough pay or has basic human rights when working for the company.

The first concept which Duke needs to approach from the Utilitarian analysis is the pleasure versus pain approach. From this viewpoint, there is the need to restructure the employee compensation and the worker rights in Wal – Mart. If the employees are happy and have a sense of pleasure of working at the company, then it will bring a greater good to the store. To do this, higher levels of compensation, worker rights and limitations on how much an employee works become the main factor. However, Duke will need to look at other limitations, such as decreasing the amount of expansion and the amount of payments which are going to other aspects of the company.

Since these parts don’t cause pain, it will lead to greater moral value with employees and the overall attributes of the company. The second aspect that is considered with