Week 6 - Discussion Strategic HR Mgmt- Due by Thurs @ 5pm CST

Week 6 Discussion

Ethics in the Workplace

Consider the following quote:

It is naive to believe that ethics is simply common sense, that everyone knows what ’doing the right thing’ means. No employee can understand the ethics of an organization until the association and its leaders define and communicate it (Navran, 2003).

This week is focused on additional functions of human resource management. Ethics underlies many of the concepts presented. Providing a safe and healthy work environment is not only a legal requirement but an ethical requirement as well. Managing employee relations in an ethical manner is critical for maintaining integrity at organizational and managerial levels.

In today's economy, the union often plays a vital role in helping organizations treat employees with ethics and safety in mind. They focus on bargaining for wages, benefits, and job security. Your reading will examine different perspectives on the union's role as well as the union's agenda and goals. Think about your own perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of unions. Now consider, from a manager's perspective, whether unions are necessary or unnecessary in today's global economy. Unions were originated to help ensure ethical treatment of employees and as a way to protect employee safety and health.

For this Discussion, consider topics such as organizational strategies to help improve and maintain health and safety of workers and the pros, cons, and legalities of union-busting and avoidance techniques.

With these thoughts in mind:

• Select a topic from this week’s readings that interested you the most. Prepare a substantive posting (200 words minimum) on the material.
• Describe a real-world situation involving ethics that relates to or could be addressed utilizing primary concepts from the assigned readings. Explain how the primary concepts could address the situation.
• Explain the ethical and legal responsibilities of employers to both their employees and the community at large in this situation.

Post your response by Day 4.

Your post should be approximately 200–250 words in length.

Use the Week 6 Discussion Template (located in this week’s Learning Resources) to develop a draft of your statement. Then, post your finalized statement to the Discussion Thread.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond by Day 6 to two or more of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and the insights you gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations from the Learning Resources and any additional sources.

Week 6 Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week's assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

Required Resources

Readings

• Stewart, G. L., & Brown, K. G. (2014). Human resource management: Linking strategy to practice(3rd ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.
  • Chapter 3, “Ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and Safety” (pp. 76–115)

  This chapter examines how a manager can implement a strategic decision-making process when carrying out their responsibilities to recognize and respect employee rights and guidelines. Specific laws pertaining to employee rights as well as the legal obligations of the employer and employee are also discussed. Further on, the provides insights into employee safety issues.

  Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples and anecdotes provided in the chapter that illustrate the major ideas being conveyed. Consider what encompasses employee rights, employer obligations, and providing a safe working environment.

  • Chapter 13, “Working Effectively with Labor” (pp. 496–535)

  This chapter identifies the major issues involving today's labor unions and the various roles and objectives these unions have. You will be introduced to the laws that regulate the relations between unions and management as well as the collective bargaining process. Problem solving roles, union-busting, and union avoidance techniques will also be examined.

  Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples and anecdotes provided in the chapter that illustrate the major ideas being conveyed. Examine the strategic choices that face unions as well as what bargaining techniques are used to try to satisfy both unions and management. Consider what strategies a manager and organization can employ that would make a union unnecessary.

  • Chapter 14, “Aligning Strategy with Practice” (pp. 536–568)

  Human resources practices may contribute to an organization’s effectiveness.