Reference no: EM133052481

David Thomas, a supervisor in the electronics department at the ABC Corporation, manages a non-unionised plant where the work atmosphere appears to be a "good old boy" system. He desires to give preference to males by giving them the better jobs and newer equipment and favoritism is often extended to them. Currently, no females occupy management positions throughout the plant. Females tend to occupy lower positions, often starting out as clerk-typists or file clerks, and a few female employees advance into higher positions. Presently, twenty people work in Mr. Thomas' department; of the twenty, three are females. All employees in the department perform the same job; skills, responsibility, output and authority are the same. Males are paid $45,000.00 per week; females with the same qualifications earn $35,000.00 per week. Working conditions throughout the department are poor; neglect and lack of enforcement of the rules on the supervisor's part has made the department unsafe.

Recently, many complaints have been made from Mr. Thomas' employees concerning the poor working conditions, and the fact that Mr. Thomas has recently installed a camera citing a high incidence of time wasting and theft in the department to justify his decision. Mr. Thomas is a profit maximiser with a bottom-line orientation and often ignores any staff or operational directive that comes from top management especially those that will impact his budget.

In his office, Mr. Thomas has pin-ups on every wall. On his desk are sexually explicit slogans, and images that some females have found offensive. His language tends to be off colour (poor taste) and is often upsetting to many people throughout the plant.

Mr. Thomas has just received a memo. He has been asked by the company president to attend a meeting on the firm's responsibilities. The memo reads, "The company is going in a new direction. We would like your input on the new direction that this company should adopt." Mr. Thomas' immediate reaction is " What new direction, this company has always been a profit-maximising firm and need to focus on the bottom line of the company's operations." He refuses to attend the meeting.

Does Mr. Thomas's behaviour raise any ethical concerns? Explain your answer