You work as a marketing consultant for a multinational company that specializes in various products including nutrient supplements, diet pills etc. The company pays its employees extremely well and provides satisfactory fringe benefits. Your manager has hinted that he will recommend you for overseas company transfer, which will improve your job profile. This has motivated you to work harder and perform better. The company has to advertise and sell a new weight loss pill 'X'. As per in-company research, it has minimal or no side effects and has no adverse impacts on health, which is its unique selling point (USP). You are given the responsibility of heading the marketing team for advertising pill 'X'. Due to a well-crafted marketing strategy including endorsement by a renowned celebrity, the product has generated considerable public attention. However, while working on an advertisement campaign for the pill, you find out that the in-company research findings of pill 'X' are fabricated. While it indeed has no side-effects, there are no proven benefits of taking the pill as well. It merely acts as a placebo. When you bring up the issue with your manager, he promptly tells you to keep the facts to yourself. He also indirectly brings up the fact that your performance review date is approaching and hints that you will get transferred overseas if you prove your loyalty to the company. Based on the given information, address the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders in this situation. (b) State the ethical issues that arise in this case. (c) Discuss your options in this scenario and mention your next step.

(a) Stakeholders in the given case

1. myself - who knows the situation and my own personal gains are also involved
2. Manager - who ignores the complaint
3. Company selling pill X
4. Consumers who will buy it in future
5. State which monitors any unfair practices by companies

(b) Ethical issues in this case

1. Misinformation to the public by the company about benefits of pill → It is against the spirit of consumer protection Act, 1986 which directs towards right to information about the product.

2. Personal cost ethical dilemma before me → Keeping quiet, I might get a better job.

3. Wastage of the hard earned money of consumers → as no benefits of pill

4. Might deter the public from doing any other effort towards weight loss

5. No efforts on health might lead to problem of overweight and other diseases like hypertension

6. Hiding the correct results - against transparency and accountability - two pillars of corporate governance

7. Against the principle of company's responsibility towards customers

(C) I have the following options

1. Keeping quiet and not disclosing anything to anyone

Thus, I will not follow this option as → It is unethical and will not leave me self satisfied and content. → As a responsible citizen, it is my duty towards other citizens.

Option 2) Leave the company

I will not take this approach as it is just a cowardly way of avoiding situations

Option 3: To try to convince manager and if not convinced, report to the senior management

I will go with this option → I will exhaust all the inner channels of complaint and even mention how the manager is blackmailing me → Secondly, if no response then I will sensitize media and consumers through social media about the study being fabricated → Thirdly, a complaint in the consumer court