Question

Some managers look around them and want to correct what they believe are marketplace injustices. For example, Mia, a manager in a department store, employs workers at minimum wage. One of these low-wage employees cannot afford a new prom dress for her daughter. Mia believes that the low wages she is required to pay are unjust, but she has no authority to raise the wages. To counteract the perceived injustice Mia made a few mistakes when she ordered prom dresses: too many were ordered. Some, but not all, were returned. She says, “It got kind of confusing.” The employee did not pay for a new dress, but the daughter of the employee looked great in her new dress at the prom. Martin, a manager of a grocery store, adjusts time cards of selected low-wage workers to give them a few more hours of work per pay period. Sometimes he gives them food to take home that he says has been damaged.

Answer the following questions. You should number your responses to correspond with each question. You must use correct grammar and writing mechanics. You must cite any sources.

• Did Mia and Martin truly help their employees in the long run by what they did?

• If Mia and Martin are egoists, what personal goal(s) might they be trying to achieve by their actions?

• Do biblical themes support their actions?

• Think of at least two other options that Mia and Martin have when they consider whether or not to help their employees in the way they did.

• What is altruism? Under what conditions might altruism be morally wrong?

Answer 1

Ans: In long run these kind of helps are not going to work.The employees need to take on bigger responsibilities by enhancing their skills and eventually it would lead to raise in their salary.

Ans: If Mia and Martin are egoist then they might try to satisfy their ego by helping others. They might want to enhance their self image to achieve their personal goals. They can be perceived better than others by their subordinates and they can get leverage in terms promotion at workplace.

Ans: There actions can't be supported as per ethical standard. Mia and Martin should not help others at the expense of company. Ordering wrong dress and giving food can cause loss to the company.

Ans: The two options to help the employees could be:

a). Train them and make them skillful.

b). Generate aspiration so that they starve to achieve success in life and work hard.

Ans: Self-less help of others to enhance their quality of life can be called altruism. Altruism can be morally wrong under following conditions:

a). If altruism is done to achieve fame or goodwill in return.

b). If something is expected in return in place of the help offered to others.