Applied Ethics Unit 7 Assignment
- 1. 1 Unit 7 Unit 7 Assignment Kathy Innes Globe University
- 2. 2 Unit 7 Abstract This writing assignment will involve the issue of ethics in the workplace and professionalism that should be present in the working environment. I will specifically write about the Bernie Madoff investment scandals and how he gained power over people. I will also address the Dr. Hotspot article and the importance behind the idea this doctor had. I will also write about the IRS scandal and how it affected the views of the government in the public eyes. I will also address the Paula Deen article and address the issue of hostile environment and the comments she made to an employee.
- 3. 3 Unit 7 Unit 7 Assignment Bernie Madoff was a very influential and controlling man. He knew how to get what he wanted and didn’t care who he hurt to get it. He was referred to as “the guy”. He was intimidating and powerful. He got his power and influence from his reputation in the business investment world. Word travels fast and he had a rich and powerful way of life. He bought his way in with lawmakers, he and his wife gave $238,200 to federal candidates, parties and political committees from the years 1991 to 2008. (Lewis, 2011) He prospered in the investment field in the social world by using his friends for their money and willing to invest in his company. He made everything he did sound right and used his personality and charm to lure people in. The ethical issue of Dr. Hotspot, Jeff Brenner, is the issue that health clinics, authorities, and law enforcement all know about the problems surrounding in the community of Camden, but no effort was made to help the individuals. The healthcare clinics would rather have people be treated with prescriptions medications that may help the symptoms but don’t find out what the real problem is with the patients. This is an important issue because healthcare is a problem and effects everyone in society. No one wants to face the reality of the situation and how to deal with the real issue. Another ethical issue is the fact that Dr.Hotspot was prescribing medication even though the patients he saw in their homes or places they were residing at the time, were not
- 4. 4 Unit 7 his patients. He had been given access to their medical records and hospital information as well. If a patient in his care had died, he would have been in some trouble. The IRS video clip is really entertaining at some points. Government officials need to held up to a higher standard because they are leaders who are supposed to be representing our country, our citizens, and what we believe in. Legal standards are often bypassed it seems with the government, because in the past they were assumed to be legally sound. In the article it also states that 28 of the groups involved withdraw the applications because the process was taking a long time. Legal standards are certainly different from ethical standards, however they could be linked. Since the IRS was involved with scandal, ethical and legal standards are undeniably linked here. Mostly due to the facts that everyone in a professional work environment, like the IRS, should have excellent standards. Not only do taxpayers pay their salaries, but they are also hired to do an important job and trusted with personal information. A hostile work environment must have legal certain legal requirements in order for somone to file a lawsuit. One requirement is that the words or actions must discriminate against a protected classification, such as age, religion or race. The behavior must also be more than one time, and must be continuous. The actions and behavior must also disrupt the employee’s work. (Heathfield, 2015) According to the article and the courts standing, the former employee of Deen, does not have grounds to file for damages. The plaintiff was not disrupted by the comments that Deen
- 5. 5 Unit 7 had made and she also said that there acts of violence that Deen and her brother committed. There were no references or evidence of the acts the plaintiff mentioned through her lawyer. The article I chose was from the New York Times, it was about an executive accountant that worked with but not directly for Bernie Madoff. His name is Paul Konisberg and he pled guilty to conspiracy and falsifying books and records. He claims he did not know that Madoff was defrauding thousands investors of close to 20 billion dollars. Konisberg would have had to serve 8 years in federal prison, Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison with no chance of early release. Konisberg did confess to giving Madoff tax advice although he did not work directly for him. In this case I think the judge really let Konisberg off easy. He confessed to fabricating book and records and pled guilty to the charges, but he says he didn’t know Madoff was defrauding the investors. I really wonder what he was thinking when he falsified the books and records, that’s illegal by itself. Did he think Madoff was just playing games when he knew the books were fabricated? I think Konisberg knew what was going on, but he told the judge he didn’t so he had a better chance of not serving time in prison. (Press, 2015)
- 6. 6 References Lewis,L.(2011, February).HowMadoff Did It: Victims'Accounts. Society,pp.70-76. Heathfield,S.M. (2015, August30). WhatMakesa Work EnvironmentHostile.RetrievedfromAbout Money:http://humanresources.about.com/od/workplace-discrimination/g/hostile-work- environment.htm Press,T. A.(2015, July9). No Prison forAccounting Executivein Madoff Fraud Case.RetrievedfromNew York Times:http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/07/09/us/ap-us-madoff-fraud.html?_r=0 The name of my colleague that reviewed my work: Jennifer Buckles