Learning Journal: Chapter 8-Ethical Problems of Managers

Respond to two of the four following discussion questions with at least a paragraph for each answer.

1. Why is employee engagement important, and what is its relationship to ethics?
2. Why should performance be measured as an ongoing process, and not just as a once‐a‐year event?
3. Imagine that you’re the manager of a facility where 200 layoffs are scheduled. Design an action plan for how the layoffs would occur. How would you handle both those being laid off and the survivors?
4. As a manager, how would you respond when a worker’s performance has declined and you suspect a problem at home is the cause? How might you respond if you think an alcohol or drug problem is the cause? What language could you use to confront the employee? Are there others you might want to bring into the discussion?

Solution

After going through the chapter readings, I learned the role a manager plays in the building of an organization’s culture. I learned that whatever may be the policies of an organization, the company is represented by the policies which are implemented by its managers; as managers are the company for the employees. The level of employee engagement and ethical culture depends majorly on the management skills of the managers. Another new thing which I learned was that the layoffs and termination strategy often speaks about the culture of a company. Thus, the company needs to have a smart, fair and value-based layoff strategy. Another important thing which was interesting to learn was that hiring, discipline, terminations, and performance evaluations are considered as ethical problems as it all includes fairness, honesty, and dignity of the individuals involves.

Employee engagement is a necessary tool for improving an organization’s efficiency. The actively engaged employees are passionate and feel profoundly associated with the company. On the other hand, the non-engaged employees are considered as sleepwalking and not passionate about their work. The engaged employees eagerly take that extra mile which makes the task extraordinary. Thus, the benefits of engaging employees can go a long way for the company. It is not only that employee engagement aids in attaining productivity, but it also helps in the building of an ethical environment. Using the four drivers of engagement; rewards and recognition, involvement, the line of sight, and information sharing, a manager can attain employee engagement and an ethical culture.

Performance evaluation is one of the important tasks of a manager. The reason that it should be considered an ongoing process is that the feedback must be communicated in time for making an impact on the subordinate behavior. Managers often restrain themselves from communicating negative feedback; as it is an uncomfortable situation. It is often forgotten by the manager by the time of annual review. Thus, communicating specific causes to the subordinates promptly is essential for a performance review.

1. Should the evaluations made confidential? Should the employees not know about the reviewer identity?
2. In an ethically cultured organization with an unethical manager, which would have more impact?