Question

Esteban Appleby, CPA, is an assistant to the controller of Summerfield Consulting Co. In his spare time, Esteban also prepares tax returns and performs general accounting services for clients. Frequently, Esteban performs these services after his normal working hours, using Summerfield Consulting Co.’s computers and laser printers. Occasionally Esteban’s clients will call him at the office during regular working hours.

Research and analyze the ethical and legal issues involving the use of a company's assets by employees. Employees should know that the use of a company's assets is unethical, but many employees do it anyway. Why?

Does Esteban's position with the company and his use of the company phone and assets expose the company to potential liability? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Following points will come in picture:

1) The first thing is that Esteban Appleby is doing his work after completion of his regular work, that means he is honest with the company and he is giving his first priority to company's work.

2) Yes, he is liable to pay something extra to his company for using company's assets like computer & printer.

3) In this case company need to analyze that Esteban Appleby is not having that much work load as per his daily working hours or he is very good in his work and completing it within time. Company need to give him extra work with additional compensation, so that he will be busy for full time and no need to do work of other clients.

4) As per legal point of view company can take serious legal action against him for engaging himself for other/personnel work in his duty hours.

5) Ethically it is completely wrong he is not doing justice with his Job.

Conclusion:- Salary is everything for an employee and every one want to earn extra money for his betterment, but he can do this work with permission of his company and share some part of his earning with the company or leave office after completion of his work and do his personnel work from his own office or home.