Case Study: Techfite

Techfite, well known in Britain for its “innovative recreational equipment,” prides itself in the fact that it promotes and encourages “workplace collaboration, leadership development, employee empowerment,” employee participation in corporate decisions, and its dedication toward the betterment of the surrounding community. As Techfite begins the transition from a Britain based company to a U.S. branch of that company they need to keep in mind the cultural and ethical differences between Britain and the U.S. As TechFite begins to make the move into the U.S. market and opens an new factory in Dellberg, it has become obvious to the HR department that there need to be some changes made, not only to the structuring of the workforce and community …show more content…
Ethical Versus Legal Issues An ethical issue is one in which the decisions being made within the corporate structure adhere to a set of core values or a moral code established by the company’s top executives or owners. The decisions should take into account our moral compass, what we deem as inherently right or wrong. A corporation should not compromise its moral stand for the sake of increased revenue, or market shares.
Since an ethical issue relies on our moral compass or core values, what is the guiding precept for legal issues? We have been given written laws that cover everything from how fast we drive, to, in some places, mandates on how long we can water our lawn. Just as in an ethical decision, we have a choice to make, but when an issue is a legal issue there are laws, judgments, or decrees that support our basic human rights and if we fail to adhere to these laws, the consequences can range from fines to imprisonment or even dissolving of a company. These ramifications can mean the difference between a life of freedom or bondage, or having a successful company or total failure of a …show more content…
There is nothing wrong with paying well deserved bonuses to top executives, since they play a major role in the survival of a corporation, but when these bonuses come at the expense of the work force that keeps them in business, it crosses an ethical line. The company prides itself in “employee empowerment” and employee “engagement in corporate decision making”, but it would seem that the employees have been bound and not empowered. Limiting hours to the extent that most employees not only are kept as part time, which in turn prevents them from getting access to much needed benefits is not empowerment. Also, if the employees had had any input into the degree to which the corporation distributed bonuses there may not be an issue with it at all. Truly empowering the employee and allowing for their input will create a sense of ownership within the workforce and this ownership will boost morale, productivity, and innovation if it is truly allowed to