Research your problem

Prof. M. Surguine

IDENTIFYING AN ETHICAL PROBLEM

Should I tell my friend’s boyfriend that she is having a baby for another man?

I am a female who is very close with my friend “Leah” and her boyfriend “Kevin”. I met Leah five years ago and was later she introduced me to Kevin and we became very good friends. I am very fond of both of them and we spend a lot of time with together. My friendship with Leah however is more since we are not only friends but classmates as well. Leah has been having an affair with “Ian” who is one of our classmates behind Kevin’s back. She recently confided in me that she is pregnant and she knows very well that is Ian’s baby. She has already told Kevin that she is pregnant with his baby. Kevin so excitedly came to tell me about the news, not knowing that I had already been told. I love Leah and we are very good friends but I will have to keep lying for Kevin to cover up for her and he is a very good young man. What should I do?

Should I tell my employer that my co-worker is conducting personal business on Company time?

I work in the marketing department of my firm with “Mary” who is not only my co-worker but also a good friend. She runs her own business where she sales ladies clothes. She has been frequently coming in late to work and I have been forced to keep lying to the manager to cover for her. I really appreciate hardworking people and like the fact that she is trying to make ends meet. On the other hand, our employer has been nothing but really good to us. I do not want to be labeled a trouble maker when I report her to my superior but on the other hand am tired of lying to cover up for her behavior. What should I do (Rafner, 2011)?

Ethical Problem

Step One

Not really, although she is trying to understand my dilemma. She keeps insisting that is none of my business, even she is my friend some stuff I have to stay away from. Another thing she told me is that, if I want to have peace within myself to stay away from such dramas. To avoid friends who make me feel guilty of their own mistakes, because I will always feel torn in between lie and truth every time I am with them.

She feels that what have told her it is own my part. But she says there are always two sides of story. I do trust her with my every secrets she knows me well, maybe she feels there is a part of a story am not ready to tell her. She don`t understand my dilemma, reason being that is what you don’t know won`t hurt you. What Kevin doesn’t know will not hurt him, because I know the moment he knows the truth he will leave Leah. And also he will be hurt, and know I knew and didn’t tell him.

The question she keeps on asking is if I do value my friendship between of Leah or Kevin? If I tell Kevin of Leah`s affairs what will I gain? Why did you tell Kevin about the affair before it get deep? Is not about the two there is children involved, will you be the one to take the excitement Kevin is feeling?

Step Two

Yes. She understands my dilemma. To her is simple to solve my dilemma just be straightforward with about her lateness and that you will stop covering for her. She knows how I work hard and value my job. She wonders how and why do I let such people use company time for their own advantages. She insists to stop covering her lateness because the moment our manager will know what has going on, he/she will not be pleased.

She feel have told her the whole story without any biasness. Have told a lot of dilemma she know I talk well about myself and negative about other people. The trust that we share makes me open up and say something the way it even when am wrong.

Why do you keep on covering for her? Why not be honest to her or the manager? Why do you let her treat you like you don’t have important things to do like her? Is she your friend or colleague? Why do you confront her concerning her behavior? Why is she taking your kindness for a weakness? Have already told her the whole story but she feel there some questions I need to ask myself. And also to tell her enough is enough.

REFERENCES

Appiah K. (2015). The Ethicist. Retrieved from