Exam 6: Ethics, Business Operations, and Rights

Accepting gifts from suppliers and vendors is not a problem so long as no bid decisions are pending.

Alice is a secretary in your department. Alice is also a member of the American Guild of Organists. Alice has been placed in charge of the Guild's national convention. Each time you pass by Alice's desk or go to her to have some work done, you notice she is on the phone discussing or working on the convention. Alice's work on the convention during work hours is an ethical violation.

A physical fitness expert retained by a fitness magazine to evaluate walking shoes has a conflict of interest if she has an endorsement contract with one of the shoe companies that manufactures the shoes she will be evaluating.

You are a building inspector for the county. A friend of yours is a plumbing contractor. Under county regulations, all steps in plumbing construction from the initial dig to the final installation of sink and bathroom fixtures requires an inspection sign-off. Your plumbing contractor friend has just called and wants to take you to dinner for your birthday at a five-star restaurant. Because you are friends anyway, the dinner presents no ethical problems.

A company can be relieved of its pension obligations in bankruptcy.

The Prudhoe Bay and BP refinery problems had no effect on BP's stock price.

You have witnessed one of your co-workers engaged in behavior that constitutes sexual harassment of one of the department secretaries. The secretary has spoken with you about the behavior and her concerns. She has also said, "Let me handle it." It seems that she is not able to handle it because the behavior has continued. You should:

The safest and simplest conflict of interest policy for purchasing agents is to accept nothing from suppliers.

Voice mail messages on employee phones can be monitored by employers.

What is the percentage of female partners in all accounting firms today?

Ten years after the Valdez spill, scientists concluded there were no indications of continuing oiling effects.

BP followed industry standards in its construction of Deepwater Horizon.

Diversity is not important to the Coca-Cola company.

When Ann Hopkins submitted her application for partnership, how many female partners did Price Waterhouse have?

Employers cannot monitor employee e-mails.

Jack Grubman made his deal with Sandy Weill on his stock analysis:

What is at issue when government officials take gifts from those they regulate?

Using things of minimal value that belong to your employer for personal reasons (such as paper, paper clips, pens) is not an ethical violation.

Your company's policy on company vehicles is that no family members may use them or ride in them. It would be unethical to use a company car to drive you and your spouse to a movie.

All damage cases from the Valdez spill are settled.