Business Ethics - Ford Meter Box
INTRODUCTION
Lesmes (1993) wrote, "organizations are increasingly associating unhealthy habits such as smoking with higher operating costs, and employers are taking measures to reduce the excess costs associated with employees who smoke." As a result of this negativity towards the practice of smoking, some organizations have implemented various policies regarding smoking in the workplace, ranging from restricted smoking areas to zero-tolerance for smokers (Ford Meter Box Company), Boatright (2003). In the wake of these measures, several concerns have arisen regarding whether it is right for a company to limit an employee's activities outside of the company. Some contend it is a violation of ones privacy and liberty rights to limit one's activities outside of the workplace while others feel the company is justified in doing so. In Case 7.3 Ford Meter Box, an employee, Janice Bone, was dismissed after testing positive for nicotine which was in breach of the company's no-smoking policy. This case will be evaluated by first giving an overview of the problem. This will be followed by a discussion of some of the ethical issues relevant to the case. Justifiable recommendations will be presented next, and finally, concluding remarks will be made.
OVERVIEW OF PROBLEM
After agreeing to the terms and conditions of employment for new employees at the Ford Meter Box Company, Janice Bone was dismissed for not adhering to the company's new no-smoking anytime, anyplace policies.
DISCUSSION OF CAUSES OF PROBLEM
This problem arose because the Ford Meter Box Company who previously allowed employees to smoke away from the job adopted a new policy of hiring non-smokers exclusively. Janice Bone, a known smoker, and a part-time employee with the company before the new policy came into effect, applied for a vacant full-time position. Based on company policy she was classified as a new employee ("new hire"), which meant that...
View Full Essay