My job requires that I lie every day I go to work. I work for a private investig
ID: 331133 • Letter: M
Question
My job requires that I lie every day I go to work. I work for a private investigation agency called XRT. Most of the work I do involves undercover operations, mobile surveillances, and groundwork searches to determine the whereabouts of manufacturers that produce counterfeit merchandise. Each assignment I take requires some deception on my part. Recently I have become very conscious of the fact that I frequently have to lie to obtain concrete evidence for a client. I sometimes dig myself so deeply into a lie that I naturally take it to the next level, without ever accomplishing the core purpose of the investigation. Working for an investigative agency engages me in assignments that vary on a day-to-day basis. I choose to work for XRT because it is not a routine 9-to-5 desk job. But to continue working for the agency means I will constantly be developing new untruthful stories. And the longer I decide to stay at XRT, the more involved the assignments will be. To leave would probably force me into a job photocopying and fling paperwork once I graduate from college. Recently I was given an assignment that I believed would lead me to entrap a subject to obtain evidence for a client. The subject had applied for disability on workers’ compensation after being hit by a truck. Because the subject refused to partake in any strenuous activity because of the accident, I was instructed to fake a flat tire and videotape the subject changing it for me. Although I did not feel comfortable engaging in this type of act, my supervisors assured me that it was ethical practice and not entrapment. Coworkers and other supervisors assured me that this was a standard “industry practice,” and that we would go out of business if we didn’t “fudge” the facts once in a while. I was told, “Do you think every business does its work and makes profits in a purely ethical way? Get real. I don’t know what they’re teaching you in college, but this is the real world.” It was either do the assignment or find myself on the street— in an economy with no jobs.
1. What is the dilemma here, or isn’t there one?
2. What would you have done in the writer’s situation? Explain.
3. React to the comment, “Do you think every business does its work and makes pro?ts in a purely ethical way? Get real. I don’t know what they’re teaching you in college, but this is the real world.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. Describe the ethics of this company.
5. Compare and contrast your personal ethics with the company ethics revealed here?
Explanation / Answer
Answer 1: The dilemma identified in the above mentioned information is that, the employee working with XRT organization has to go against his moral ethics and create a fictitious scenario in which his client’s worker was hit by a truck. Moreover the employee has to constantly develop untruthful stories in order to fulfil his current roles and responsibilities in this organization.
Answer 2: As per my perspective, I would have approached my Human Resource division and debriefed the information about the project which was given to me. Plus I would have reviewed the policies and procedures of the organization and in turn have taken necessary steps.
Answer 3: Yes, I completely disagree with this statement because ethical and sustainable business can attain profitability in today’s destructive world because if the organization is not transparent and visible in its supply chain, then they can’t retain themselves in the marketplace for long. Moreover, only with best and ethical business practices organization is able to scale up their business operation rather than manipulating the system for their own benefits.
Answer 4: XRT organization business philosophy is to arm twist the information available and create an ecosystem in which they benefit the most rather than going with actual scenario.
Answer 5: In comparison with the XRT organization my personal ethics are altogether has a different view because I believe in transparency and honesty in all the business dealings and make sure I don’t mislead facts and communication. In addition to it, respect for others is also a critical issue in order to make all the stakeholders in confidence while coordinating and collaborating in the corporate world.
These are some of the elements which contrast with XRT organization because they are more into manipulating things at the core in order to attain profitability and their core competence to overpower their competitors.
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