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Common Ethical Problems (2): Consumer Confidence Issues HR (continued)

Common Ethical Problems (2): Consumer Confidence Issues HR (continued). Geoffrey G. Bell, PhD, CA University of Minnesota Duluth September 2003. Consumer Confidence Issues. Involves confidentiality, product safety and effectiveness, and special fiduciary responsibilities.

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Common Ethical Problems (2): Consumer Confidence Issues HR (continued)

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  1. Common Ethical Problems (2):Consumer Confidence IssuesHR (continued) Geoffrey G. Bell, PhD, CA University of Minnesota Duluth September 2003

  2. Consumer Confidence Issues • Involves confidentiality, product safety and effectiveness, and special fiduciary responsibilities. • Primarily, things that affect citizens in their role as consumers, but also can involve inter-firm relations.

  3. Confidentiality • Right to privacy is basic. • Affects both individuals and firms. • Need to be careful what you say, even to representatives of client firms. • Generally, release of information to 3rd parties needs to have specific client permission, including what can be disclosed.

  4. Product Safety • Many ethical issues have product safety issues at the core. • See PBS Frontline SUV show • Includes both product & service dimensions. • Truth in advertising – can organizations exaggerate their product claims? • Current US Supreme Court case • Fiduciary responsibilities – do you have a special obligation to your customers, especially certain types of customers? What are they?

  5. Harassment • All organizations with >15 employees must have a sexual harassment policy & train employees in issues involved. • Harassment involves quid pro quo and hostile work environment. • Quid pro quo – sexual favors are, or appear to be, a requirement for advancement. • Hostile work environment – a worker feels uncomfortable because of unwelcome actions or comments related to sexuality. • Hard to determine exactly what constitutes harassing behavior – even genuine complements may be misconstrued. • Determination of presence or absence of harassment based on viewpoint of “reasonable” person, and perpetrator’s intentions aren’t considered.

  6. Why harassment matters • Unfairly focuses job satisfaction, advancement, and retention on factors other than ability. • Also, simply hurts innocent people, even though it may be innocuously. • An employer may be held liable for employee behavior if employer knew about it & did nothing.

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