CHAPTER 6 WORKPLACE RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

I.

TEAMWORK 1. An Ethical Corporate Climate: a working environment that is conductive to morally responsible conduct Ethical values Use of ethical language Moral tone in words, in policies and by personal example Conflict resolution Loyalty and Collegiality: Agency-loyalty: an act to fulfill ones contractual duties to an employer. Attitude-loyalty: has something to do with attitudes, emotions, and a sense of personal identity as it does with action. Managers and Engineers: Kinds of Authority Executive authority: The corporate or institutional right given to a person to exercise power based on the resources of an organization. Expert authority: The possession of special knowledge, skill, or competence to perform some task or to give sound advice. Respect authority: When employees accept the guidance and obey the directives issued by the employer having to do with the areas of activity covered by the employers institutional authority. Managing Conflict: Seven most common conflicts confronting engineering project manager: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Conflicts over schedules Conflicts over which projects and departments are most important to the organization at a given time. Conflicts over personnel resources made available for the projects Conflicts over technical issues Conflicts over administrative procedures Personal conflicts Conflicts over costs

2.

3.

4.

II.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CONFIDENTIALITY: The duty of confidentiality is the duty to keep secret all the information deemed desirable to keep secret. Related terms: Privileged information - literally means available only on the basis of special privilege, such as the privilege accorded an employee working on a special assignment. Proprietary information is information that a company own or is the proprietor of, or and hence is a term defined by property law. Patents legally protect specific products from being manufactured and sold by the competitors without the express permission of the patent holder. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Professional conflicts of interest are situations where professionals have interest that, if pursued, might keep them from meeting their obligations to their employers or clients. Two conditions: (1) The professional is in a relationship or role that requires exercising good judgement on behalf of the interests of an employer or client. (2) The professional has some additional or side interest that could threaten good judgement in serving the interests of the employer or client. Common situations: (1) Gifts, bribes, and kickbacks (2) Interests in other company (3) Insider information

III.

RIGHTS OF ENGINEERS As human Engineers have fundamental rights to live and freely pursue their legitimate interest. As employees Engineers have special rights, including the right to receive ones salary in return for performing ones duties and the right to engage in the nonwork political activities of ones choosing without reprisal or coercion from employers. Examples of Employee rights: 1. Privacy the right to pursue outside activities can be thought of as a right to personal privacy in the sense that it means the right to have a private life off the job.

2.

Equal opportunity: Nondiscrimination Civil Rights Act of 1964: It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex, or national origin ( Title VIIEqual Employment Opportunity ). Sexual Harassment- (definition) the unwanted imposition of sexual requirements in the context of a relationship of unequal power. Affirmative action giving a preference or advantage to a member of a group that in the past was denied equal treatment, in particular, women and minorities. Two forms: weak form and strong form.

As professionals - engineers have special rights that arise from their professional role and the obligation it involves. 1. 2. 3. Rights of professional conscience the moral right to exercise professional judgement in pursuing professional responsibilities. Rights of conscientious refusal the right to refuse to engage in unethical behavior and to refuse to do so solely because one views it as unethical. Rights to recognition Engineers have a right to professional recognition for their work and accomplishments.

IV.

WHISTLEBLOWING

Whistleblowing occurs when an employee or former employee conveys information about a significant moral problem to someone in a position to take action on the problem and does so outside approved organizational channels. External whistleblowing when the information is passed outside the organization. Internal whistleblowing when the information is conveyed to someone within the organization. Open whistleblowing individuals openly reveal their identity as they convey the information. Anonymous whistleblowing concealing ones identity as they convey the information.