How Ethical Are We? (Topic 2)
Two articles, both from academic journals, were categorized as “How Ethical Are We?”
A study of 534 workers in various positions in the hospitality industry found that employee theft
was rampant with 77.6% of the respondents indicating theft at their own workplaces. Low-paid,
part-time, and young workers were the most likely to steal, and pens and food were the items
most often stolen. It was noted that low-paid, part-time, young workers didn’t really consider
taking pens and food as theft, even though these small thefts add up to very large losses. The
authors recommend employing more full-time workers, mixing ages, providing employee meals,
and training employees in theft awareness (Poulston, 2008).
Another study of 269 restaurant workers found that female workers were more ethically
optimistic than male workers, that is, they associate ethical behavior with success in the
organization.
New workers and Spanish speaking workers tended to perceive successful
managers as less ethical than unsuccessful managers. Management modeling and enforcing
ethical behavior is seen as one of the best ways to influence ethical behavior in workers
(Kincaid, Baloglu, & Corsun, 2008).
How to do the Right Thing (Topic 3)
Eight of the 11 articles in Topic 3 appeared in various trade journals and discussed how
to do the right thing. Generation Y (those born somewhere between the mid-70’s and early 90’s)
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are more technologically advanced than previous generations. They work well in groups, multitask with ease, and are more tolerant of different lifestyles. However, having been raised in dual
income families, Gen Y’s worked less, were given more money, less supervision, and more
rewards for doing nothing (White, 2008). There has been a sharp increase in plagiarism since
Gen Y’s have been in college (Dorsey, 2008).
Staffing may be one of management’s biggest problems. Baby Boomers are aging out of
the labor pool as Gen Y’s are aging into it. Because there are fewer younger people entering the
industry, it behooves managers to carefully screen Gen Y potential employees, understanding
that they are different and different management tactics may be necessary to retain them and get
the best from them (White, 2008).
Gen Y’s are cautioned against lying on resumes, sharing company secrets with others
outside the company, and theft (Dorsey, 2008). Technically advanced young people find
plagiarism easier due to the internet. The internet, however, may also be used by employers to
check references (Dorsey, 2008), and anti-plagiarism detection software can be successfully
utilized to identify plagiarism (Self & Brown, 2008).
Anti-plagiarism detection software is an excellent deterrent when students know from the
beginning of class that their papers will be submitted to an anti-plagiarism program; students
must know that their instructors are serious about enforcing rules against academic dishonesty
(Self & Brown, 2008). Managers hiring Gen Y’s, need to always model their own words and
policies. The new Gen Y employees must receive training that is appropriate for their specific
needs and should be involved immediately in operating activities (White, 2008).
David Albutt, Director of leisure-net, in an interview said that the worst business decision
he ever made involved not following his beliefs and, instead, doing what he thought others
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expected. He learned from the experience and has since tried to do what he knew to be right
(Robathan, 2008). Sometimes, however, doing the right thing is just too difficult. In the case of
UK pub licensees, who may be unprepared to operate responsibly because they do not know how
to or simply refuse to, voluntary guidelines may not be enough. The results of alcohol abuse are
costly to society and individuals and may be mitigated if all licensees are required to belong to a
professional organization with a code of conduct that requires responsible sales of alcohol, and
enforced so that not adhering to the code results in expulsion from the organization and loss of
license to sell alcohol (Pratten & Lovatt, 2008).
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which makes processing Internet
gambling transactions in the U.S., illegal, was upheld. The danger of gambling, particularly to
children, turned the legal debate into a moral one. The Treasury Department is working on
regulations to enforce the law (U.S. Web gambling ban alive and well, 2008).
The Gambling Commission of Spain met with regional representatives, officials of the
Interior Ministry, Tax Authorities, and the National Agency of Lotteries and Betting to discuss
formal regulation of online gambling (Spanish leaders meet to discuss online regulation, 2008).
Pharmaceutical and medical-device companies also needed the help of legislation that
bans them from giving payments and gifts to doctors. The House of Representatives is
considering a bill that would require reporting of gifts over $25 and fines of up to $100,000 for
infractions. The American Medical Association is considering banning doctors from taking any
medical education funds from pharmaceutical companies (Dienst, 2008). This is of interest to
meeting planners who were paid by pharmaceutical companies to plan the meetings where the
education was presented.
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Siemens Shared Services in Orlando integrated information from the BCD Travel
Agency, the American Express corporate credit card, and Siemens human resources department
to match information between booked travel and actual spending for business trips.
Discrepancies can then go to the traveler’s boss so that frequent offenders can be identified and
managers held accountable for non-compliance with the corporate travel policy (Siemens
streamlines, 2008).
If, in the future, major hotel chains hope to build new properties in the same areas where
they are currently building properties, it is necessary for them to negotiate with operators,
specifying that they will be competing in the future. Otherwise the new property will not be
allowed to compete with the older property (If you want to compete, negotiate it, 2008).
Local pizzerias near Cincinnati included flyers with their pizzas to help the Butler County
Child Enforcement Support Enforcement Agency track down “Deadbeat Dads” (A different twist
on the pizza box, 2008).
