Read the case study for this unit regarding ExtremeNet and Allen Lopez.
As the Chief Executive Officer for ExtremeNet, you are responsible for resolving the conflict between Allen Lopez and ExtremeNet in a manner that demonstrates solid ethical reasoning skills and the ability to manage stakeholder interests.
Click the “Rubric” button to view how the Conflict Resolution Paper Assignment will be graded.
As the leader of ExtremeNet, it is your responsibility to resolve the following questions:
Should Allen Lopez be allowed to keep his job with ExtremeNet? Support your answer using ethical theory.
Should ExtremeNet attempt a lawsuit to force the removal of this website? Support your answer using ethical theory.
How can ExtremeNet’s leadership best respect the rights of Allen Lopez and ExtremeNet? Explain the impact of your ethical decision on Allen Lopez and the company.
How can ExtremeNet’s leadership best repair the relationship between management and employees while meeting the needs and goals of the company? Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and how to best unify the company to move forward.
Write a one to two page decision in which you address the above questions and explain your reasoning.
Sample paper
Employee Rights Case Study paper HU245
In the recent years, the labor force has become one of the important assets in an organization and the senior management and the investors need to treat them with care and the respect they deserve. However, this does not mean that both the employer and the employee agree to all the policies implemented by their organization. To some organization, an employee is just a machine meant to work and get paid, and thus, they can be treated in any way that the management feels. To other, employee has no say whatsoever in running the organization affairs (Dion, 2012). However, it is the duty of the management to uphold employees’ right, apply ethical standards in all their decisions about the employees as well as resolve all work related conflict to get a win – win scenario. This paper will look at ways to solve work-related conflicts through the application of ethical standards.
Question 1
Should Allen Lopez be allowed to keep his job with ExtremeNet? Support your answer using ethical theory
YES.
Allen Lopez should be allowed to keep his post in the company since he did not do anything wrong, but rather he was seeking justice and fairness to his fellow employee. It is against the ethical standards of any company to segregate employees by gender and age during the recruitment and dismissal processes. Through the application of utilitarianism ethical theory which states that in the case of conflict, there should be the implementation of fair choices to make sure that least amount of harm is done to both parties. By firing Lopez, the company would make the situation worse because Lopez will concentrate on his website to fight for the employees, but by keeping him in his position they can convince him to drop it.
Question 2
Should ExtremeNet attempt a lawsuit to force the removal of this website? Support your answer using ethical theory
NO.
ExtremeNet should not attempt a lawsuit as this would create more publicity than it has already had. By filing a lawsuit, it would become clear to the public that Lopez was right and thus can trigger crises and resistance from an employee not all from their firm but the entire industry (Frederiksen, 2013). According to the deontology ethical theory, the company should focus on the consequences of the actions they are about to take before fully implementing them. Filing a lawsuit would do more harm than expected.
Question 3
How can ExtremeNet’s leadership best respect the rights of Allen Lopez and ExtremeNet? Explain the impact of your ethical decision on Allen Lopez and the company
The company has several ways to show respect for all employees of the company and the organization in general, but the best course of action would be to stop favoritism and take just and fair action. It is understandable that the company wants to lay off some workers because of the economic downturn in the country, but this should be done in a transparent and accountable way. Laying off workers by their gender and age displayed a lack of moral and ethical standards among the top managers of the company. Employees are as important as any other stakeholders in the organization and should be treated with respect.
Question 4
How can ExtremeNet’s leadership best repair the relationship between management and employees while meeting the needs and goals of the company? Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and how to best unify the company to move forward
Despite the broken relationship between the employers and the employees, the company has a chance to repair the relationship if only it is ready to open up the lines of communication and find the challenges straining their relationship. The company faces a challenge of laying off some of its workers, but this is not the main reason as to why the employees are unhappy. The company should find the reasons that are making the employees unhappy during the layoff process and address them before it is too late (Dion, 2012). Moreover, the leadership should be open to the employees and clearly, elaborate to them the reason behind their layoff and how the company plans to help them over the next few difficult months before finding a new job. Communication is paramount in repairing their relationship.
References
Dion, M. (2012). Are ethical theories relevant for ethical leadership?. . Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 33(1), , 4-24.
Frederiksen, C. S. (2013). Ethical Theories. In Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. . , (pp. 1071-1078)Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
