Question 1

Whistle-blowers often suffer for going public with their complaints.

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowers often face retaliation, harassment, and sometimes even legal consequences for speaking out against wrongdoing or unethical behavior. This is a widely recognized issue in many industries and countries.

Question 2

How can a supervisor encourage employees to make ethical decisions?

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Question 3

Ryan,a supervisor,suspects that one of his employees may be involved in unethical behavior.List the steps Ryan should take to tackle the matter effectively.

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Question 4

In an organization that is sustainable,managers make decisions aimed at balancing present needs against the needs of future generations in three areas: the economy,the environment,and society.

Accepted Answer

In a sustainable organization, managers make decisions keeping in mind the three pillars of sustainability - economy, environment, and society - in order to balance present needs with the needs of future generations.

Question 5

Why is it especially challenging for one to adhere to high ethical standards when working with people from more than one culture?

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Question 6

Respond to the statement,"Business ethics is an oxymoron."

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Question 7

Describe some of the benefits of ethical behavior.

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Question 8

Elaborate on the Davis Model of Corporate Social Responsibility.

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Question 9

Define code of ethics and describe one that can be adopted in this class.

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Question 10

Today,many organizations are using hotlines to discourage whistle-blowers.

Accepted Answer

Hotlines are typically set up by organizations to encourage and facilitate whistleblowing, not discourage it. Hotlines allow individuals to report misconduct anonymously and without fear of retaliation, which can help organizations identify and address issues before they become more serious. While some organizations may misuse hotlines or ignore reports of misconduct, this is not the purpose of hotlines and is not common practice.

Question 11

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act forbids employers from retaliating against an employee who reports possible accounting,auditing,or reporting misdeeds that deceive investors.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has a whistleblower protection provision that prohibits retaliation against employees who report possible violations of SEC rules, accounting fraud, or other financial misdeeds that could harm investors. Employers who retaliate against whistleblowers can face fines, damages, and other penalties.

Question 12

A supervisor's general attitude toward whistle-blowing should be to encourage reports of wrongdoing even when they are motivated simply by pettiness so as to avoid lawsuits.

Accepted Answer

Encouraging reports motivated by pettiness can lead to a toxic work environment and misuse of resources. Whistle-blowing should be encouraged when it is based on genuine concerns about wrongdoing.

Question 13

Under a civil war era law that was little used until the late 1980s,whistle-blowers who report on companies that are cheating the government stand to receive up to 30 percent of whatever money the company ultimately pays as a penalty for the fraud.

Accepted Answer

The law referred to in the statement is the False Claims Act, which was introduced during the civil war era, but was rarely used until the late 1980s. The law allows whistle-blowers to receive a percentage of the penalty paid by companies that commit fraud against the government. The percentage can range from 15-30% depending on certain factors.

Question 14

By keeping communication flowing and responding to problems,supervisors run the risk of leading their companies to public embarrassment.

Accepted Answer

Effective communication and problem-solving by supervisors generally help prevent public embarrassment by addressing issues before they escalate.

Question 15

Typically,the whistle-blower is resented and rejected by coworkers,and may be either demoted or terminated.

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowers are often viewed as traitors by their colleagues and may face negative consequences such as demotion or termination.

Question 16

As a supervisor,what types of ethical behavior should one ideally practice?

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Question 17

A sustainable organization is less likely to have a steady supply of workers and customers.

Accepted Answer

A sustainable organization is one that can maintain itself over a long period of time, while taking into account the impact it has on the environment, society, and economy. Such an organization would likely have loyal customers who appreciate its commitment to sustainability and a dedicated workforce who believe in its mission. Therefore, it is more likely to have a steady supply of workers and customers.

Question 18

Define the term whistle-blower.What should be the supervisor's attitude toward the whistle-blowers?

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Question 19

How can supervisors contribute toward building a sustainable organization?

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Question 20

The supervisor should bear in mind that the typical whistle-blower is simply a troublemaker.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Whistleblowers usually come forward with valuable information to expose wrongdoing or illegal activity, not to cause trouble. They take great personal and professional risks to bring forth such information in the interest of public safety and integrity. It’s important for supervisors to take whistleblowers seriously and protect them from retaliation, rather than dismissing them as troublemakers.

Quiz 4: Corporate Social Responsibility, ethics, and Sustainability