GS4 · 20 marks · 250 words

You are the Managing Director of a multinational company that prides on hiring people from diverse backgrounds. The company also chooses multiple projects under Corporate Social Responsibility that are geared towards social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society. Miss 'X' who works in your office tells you that she has been diagnosed with HIV. It happened due to malpractice by a medical practitioner who re-used a contaminated syringe that led Miss 'X' to contract the disease. The company has strict policies about toleration and you ensure Miss 'X' that she can continue with her job in the company without facing any form of discrimination. A few days after the revelation, Miss 'X' angrily submits her resignation letter. She states that she has faced discrimination at the workplace everyday after the revelation. Her colleagues are hesitant to eat lunch with her, they make sure they do not drink water from the same source and the females in the office comment on her marital status. She is also asked to sit separately during departmental discussions. She intends to sue the company for mental harassment. If she takes the step, the public image of the company will be maligned and its non-discriminatory policies will be questioned. The following are some suggested options for you to deal with the situation as a Managing Director of the company. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of the options: (a) You accept her resignation and suggest a compensation package so that she refrains from suing the company. (b) You persuade her not to submit her resignation and transfer her to another department. (c) You ask her to continue with her job and take strict action against the colleagues who discriminated against her Also, state (without necessarily restricting to the above options) your course of action, giving proper reasons.

Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Corporate GovernanceEmpathy and CompassionEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentAttitudeWork CultureEthics in Private and Public LifeHuman Values

Syllabus: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

How toppers approached it

From 5 of the 6 answers · about 270 words · 40% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening100%

Body

  • Points60%
  • Points and prose40%

Close

  • A way forward80%
  • A summary20%

The toppers’ answers

Ravi JainAIR 9 · CSE 2019 · 313 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · no separate opening

None written.

Body · points

(a) Accepting Miss X resignation and suggesting a compensation Pros - ✓ Company's bad image in public can be saved. ✓ It will protect Miss X from further harassment in the company ✓ Since other employees are disturbed by Miss X and condition and would hamper their performance in the company. This is a appropriate thing to do.

Cons -

  • It is the most unethical thing to do.
  • It might promote similar action from the employee's
  • It will set a bad precedence
  • It might hamper company's image in the future.

(b) Pussuade her to not submit her resignation and transfer her to other department. Pros -

  • It might stop the mental harassment.
  • It will save negative publicity for the company.
  • Might save Miss X from financial problems arising out of no job.

Cons-

  • It will also set a bad precedence.
  • Discrimanation from other employs might not stop.
  • She might face discrimination in other department too.
  • It might hamper the work environment.

(c) You ask her to continue & take action against the other employee.

Pros-

  • This is in allingment with professional ethics and Company's value.
  • It will send the correct message.
  • It will enhance the company's image.
  • It will create a positive work environment.

Cons -

  • Other employees might get uncomfortable and resign themselves.

Close · a way forward

The best course of action would be to stop her from resigning and sensitising the group members about the Miss X condition asking the other employees to apologise for their action. If agreed by Miss X forgiving other employee for their shortcoming. If the discrimanation continues taking strong action against the colleagues who has disciminated. In the long run, session needs to be organised to

make people sensitize about the problem of HIV patients and discrimination against them is illegal under the law.

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