Professional Workplace Dilemma

¶ … ethical issue concerned an otherwise reliable employee displaying signs of troublesome behavior, as well as unethical financial and personal practices. This included drunkenness, fighting during off-base time, financial indiscretion relating to workplace funds, and a number of occasions of tardiness. The persons involved included Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Pat Jones, newly appointed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, and I, Technical Sergeant Smith. Our relationship was that of supervisor and subordinate: I was SSgt Jones's supervisor, and also became a friend to him as our working relationship progressed.

He impressed me with his enthusiasm and the excellence of his work ethic. In terms of power and authority, I have a position of power relative SSgt Jones, as I am his supervisor. I therefore have considerable authority over him, as I am responsible for helping him maintain his work ethic and supervise his behavior at all times. I am also responsible for dealing with any problems that may arise while performing these duties.

Although this does give me authority over my subordinates, I always try to treat those around me with respect, regardless of rank or position relative to mine. Specifically, the ethical issues concerned firstly involved the apparently sudden change in behavior displayed by SSgt. Jones. He seemed to be given to outbursts of rage and brawling, as well as bouts of drinking. Later he seemed to be involved in financial indiscretions, and finally his frequent tardiness in a short space of time became troublesome.

These issues relate to workplace ethics, and SSgt. Jones's behavior was no longer maintaining the high character and reputation maintained by the Base. The personal values in conflict included my loyalty and concern firstly for my workplace and the duties both SSgt. Jones and I were to perform. I had however also begun to build considerable respect for Ssgt. Jones and I did not want to jeopardize the relationship that had grown between us. Thus I found myself in a somewhat difficult dilemma.

My loyalty to work however urged me to resolve the matter, while my loyalty to the Sergeant urged me to do so with the utmost sensitivity and respect for the issues involved. For SSgt. Jones, the personal values in conflict included the financial difficulties he experienced as a result of his pending divorce, as well as personal stress related to the related custody battle. The potential outcomes relate to the potential actions that could have been taken, as well as to the conflicts experienced by Ssgt. Jones.

Of course I could not have ignored the concerns raised to me, especially in the case of financial indiscretion. I could have thus summarily dismissed SSgt. Jones. The other option, which I took, would have been to discuss the matter with SSgt. Jones to find the root of the problem, and help him if I could. I also had the choice to follow the necessary disciplinary steps, as provided in the guidelines of the Base. The outcomes relating to Ssgt. Jones's reaction were also variable.

He could have taken offence and refused to accept help, in which case he might have either been dismissed or quit himself. The consequences of a summary dismissal or even an incorrect application of disciplinary procedures may have resulted in the loss of a valuable employee for the Base. For myself, I would have lost a friendship that I have come to enjoy. As for the Sergeant, there would have been dire consequences in terms of his own situation at home and the resulting financial difficulty he found himself in.

He had established himself at work as normally loyal and competent. In his current state he would not have been able to show the excellence he was already known for. Thus he would have sunk even further into his predicament, while he may have had to take a position with lower wages. The outcome of the actions I chose to take was that the matter was resolved with as little unpleasantness as possible for all parties. Ssgt.

Jones, displaying the characteristics of loyalty that his peers had come to respect, accepted the help offered by his employers. Furthermore, everybody involved was able to maintain the good interpersonal relations built up so far. I was able to retain my relationship with SSgt. Jones, in terms of both trust and friendship. I was also able to ensure that, should further problems arise, the Sergeant would seek my help without putting the reputation of the Base at risk.

Furthermore, the Base was able to retain the renewed excellence of service that SSgt. Jones had become known for. The consequence for SSgt. Jones himself was that he was able to establish a relationship of trust with his superiors and coworkers. He gained the.