Question

asssume you are the employee representative on the executive board at your company. You know the vice president of human resources plans to propose a smoker ban to begin June 1 for all new hires and the following January for all existing employees. However, you’ve been asked to keep the plans quiet. What would you do and why?

Answer 1

In the given scenario, the ban on smoking is good for the employees and it may contribute to the increase in productivity, management of  time and stress in a better manner. But, keeping it a secret does not make it ethical as smoking becomes the part of habit and it needs special technical & medical attention for the people to leave it. Hence, my first concern will be to develop a counselling program and rehabilitation of the employees before the launch of the program. Further, I would also try to convince the board to convey it to the employees at the earliest so that a good faith, trust and initiatives of mutual benefits should keep taking place. Though, the board may need some time to do it and only for that period to prepare the plan of counselling, rehabilitation and information to the employees, I will not share it to the employees as these plans (though in very early stage) are conveyed to me  due to trust and belief upon each other.

But after that period of time, I will ensure that plans are disclosed to the employees and in good faith, employees' concerns should also be addressed as  it is towards the larger benefit of the community and it is the part of utilitarian approach of ethics.