Business and society ethics

Ethics

What are the ethical issues in this case?

The first ethical issue is whether or not the university should be in partnership with a credit card company and sharing student information with the company. Another ethical issue is the fact the university is inviting a credit card company to solicit students into getting credit cards that will be a source of debt for the students for years to come. In many cases some of the students don't even have jobs. A final ethical issue presented in the case is that the credit/debit cards offered have high overdraft fees and high interest rates, when compared with other cards that can be obtained by students independent of the partnership that the college has with the bank. High overdraft fees and high interest rates are a terrible combination for students that don't have a source of income or only a limited source of income.

Who are the stakeholders impacted by this situation? How would you rank their claims?

The stakeholders are the students, the parents, the university and the U.S. Bank. The stakeholders rank would be the students, the parents, the university and the bank. The students have the potential to be affected the most if they get into too much debt and cannot pay their credit card bills. The parents would be the second in line because they may be faced with having to pay the bill for the student, this may affect their ability to pay tuition for the student. The University receives sponsorship/partnership revenue from the bank and not having this type of agreement may impact the ability of the school to raise funding. The bank is the final stakeholder because they have very little to loose. They encourage people to get credit cards they cannot afford and then they charge them high amount of interest.

Alcohol and tobacco companies are not permitted to market on campus. Should credit card companies be banned as well (as some universities have already done)? Why or why not?

It would be more ethical for the school to ban the credit card companies from campus. If a student needs a credit card for emergency purposes (as many students do) their parents should be the ones to assist them in getting a credit or debit card. There are many cards that carry low balances or debit cards that can be used like credit cards (Visa Check Cards). Such alternatives are better for the students as it pertains to limiting the accumulation of debt and protecting them against overdraft fees.

What, if any, public policy recommendations would you make?

Policy recommendations for the university would be to establish a clear policy against the sharing of student names and information with credit card companies. Universities can also limit or eliminate the use of partnerships to raise funding for the university. The university should find other types of alternatives, because their main priority should be to protect their students to the predatory credit card companies.

What are the ethical issues in this case?

The employer is holding the employee accountable for behavior that occurred away from the job. The behavior engaged in was not illegal. Nor is it illegal to be a transgendered individual. The company's actions were discriminatory. He was not fired because he was a poor employee but because of his actions away from the job.

Who are the stakeholders, and how are they impacted by this situation?

The stakeholders were Peter Oiler, his manager and Winne Dixie. Peter Oiler faced the prospect of not having a job and being ostracized in the community. The manager faced the consequences of loosing a good employee in Mr. Oiler and having to deal with the consequences if he chose not to fire Oiler. Winn Dixie would be affected if Oiler's lifestyle somehow reflected badly on the company/. It may also be the case that Winn Dixie would be negatively affected if customers saw the way this outstanding employee was treated and decided that the company was discriminating against him.

Do you agree with the federal judge's decision? If you were the judge, what would you do?

The judge had no choice if the wording of the law is such that transgender people were not protected under the law at that time. I would probably have to rule the same way but I would make it clear that just because no law exist for that type of discrimination, the way the firing of the employee was still discriminatory.

A recently passed ordinance in New Orleans prohibits discrimination against off-the-job cross-dressing. However, the Winn-Dixiebranch that fired Oiler is located just outside that jurisdiction. Does this affect your answer to #2?

No. Discrimination is discrimination.

For what after-hours behavior do you feel it is appropriate to terminate an employee? For what after-hours behavior is it not appropriate? Where do you draw the line, and how would you describe that line if you were developing a policy to put into an employee manual?