Ethics in the Workplace
Ethics in Management PHL 323
Ethics in the Workplace Case Study Action Plan
Learning Team B: Cynthia Gibbs
Elizabeth Hedden
Dr. Christopher Klein, Facilitator
December 11, 2005
Ethics in the Workplace Case Study Action Plan
Introduction
In 2003, Weyco Inc., a licensed third party medical benefits administrator based in Okemos, Michigan, announced that effective January 1, 2005, they would no longer hire smokers (http://www.weyco.com/web/). They were changing their policy to a Tobacco-Free Policy, which would not only prohibit employees from smoking in or around the workplace, but outside the workplace, including in the privacy of their own homes. Employees who worked for Weyco Inc. were given a 15-month time frame to kick the habit. Weyco offered cessation classes and payment for medication and treatments to help employees quit smoking. In January 2005, four Weyco employees were terminated for refusing to take a smoking breath test.
Workplace Dilemma
Weyco's actions have created quite an uproar and spawned a controversial debate. This work place dilemma not only captured the attention of locals, but nationwide news coverage. The dilemma remains whether it is ethical for Weyco to regulate employee's tobacco use outside of the workplace. Opponents of Weyco's Tobacco-Free Policy argue that it is a violation of privacy. However, according to state and federal law, Weyco's actions are not illegal.
There are two main parties who are affected by this workplace dilemma; Weyco employees, both smokers and non-smokers, and the corporation, Weyco Inc. Money, health, privacy, and contradicting principles are all factors that play a role in each party's stance to either support or oppose Weyco's Tobacco-Free Policy.
Isolate the Problems
Being that Weyco is a medical benefits administrator, and they are " in business to help other companies save money and improve employee health through innovative benefit plans," the corporation bases their principles on
Ethics in the Workplace Case Study Action Plan
Learning Team B: Cynthia Gibbs
Elizabeth Hedden
Dr. Christopher Klein, Facilitator
December 11, 2005
Ethics in the Workplace Case Study Action Plan
Introduction
In 2003, Weyco Inc., a licensed third party medical benefits administrator based in Okemos, Michigan, announced that effective January 1, 2005, they would no longer hire smokers (http://www.weyco.com/web/). They were changing their policy to a Tobacco-Free Policy, which would not only prohibit employees from smoking in or around the workplace, but outside the workplace, including in the privacy of their own homes. Employees who worked for Weyco Inc. were given a 15-month time frame to kick the habit. Weyco offered cessation classes and payment for medication and treatments to help employees quit smoking. In January 2005, four Weyco employees were terminated for refusing to take a smoking breath test.
Workplace Dilemma
Weyco's actions have created quite an uproar and spawned a controversial debate. This work place dilemma not only captured the attention of locals, but nationwide news coverage. The dilemma remains whether it is ethical for Weyco to regulate employee's tobacco use outside of the workplace. Opponents of Weyco's Tobacco-Free Policy argue that it is a violation of privacy. However, according to state and federal law, Weyco's actions are not illegal.
There are two main parties who are affected by this workplace dilemma; Weyco employees, both smokers and non-smokers, and the corporation, Weyco Inc. Money, health, privacy, and contradicting principles are all factors that play a role in each party's stance to either support or oppose Weyco's Tobacco-Free Policy.
Isolate the Problems
Being that Weyco is a medical benefits administrator, and they are " in business to help other companies save money and improve employee health through innovative benefit plans," the corporation bases their principles on
References: Kittnar, G (2005, December 12). Smokers maligned Rockford Register Star, IL Retrieved December 12, 2005 http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&tab=nn&q=smokers+rights Schultz, M., Lee, A., and Lacy, E. (2005, January 27). Workers fume as firms ban smoking at home. The Detroit News on the Web. Retrieved December 11, 2005 from http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0501/27/A01-71823.htm University of Phoenix (ED). (2002). Critical Thinking [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text]. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved August 16, 2005, from University of Phoenix, Resource MGT350 http://mycampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resourse.asp Wieland, B. (2004, October 2). Okemos firm bans all smoking. The Lansing State Journal on the Web. Retrieved December 11, 2005, from http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041002/NEWS03/410020328&SearchID=73186229035716 http://www.weyco.com/web/