Reference no: EM133151801
Location, Location, Location
Our department has two buildings about three miles apart. The extension office operates quite differently from headquarters. Folks seem to come and go as they please, and the atmosphere is casual. April works in the extension office and takes full advantage of this environment to maximize her second income; selling real estate. Her office-a cubicle in the back of the building-is a disaster area of sales paraphernalia, billing statements from investment properties that she owns, and a smattering of work-related papers. She uses her computer and e-mail account to close deals and is constantly chattering in full voice on her cell phone as she woos potential buyers and schedules appointments. The departmental fax machine and photocopier also come in handy as a part of April's burgeoning real estate endeavors.
Management is aware of April's situation. However, they struggle with the other side of her story. Her job is unique in that it requires her to work in very hot or very cold environments depending on weather. The storage building, out of which she must work daily, does not have heating or air conditioning, but must be fully ventilated. The bottles, jerricans, and drums that she handles are heavy, cumbersome, and dangerous. Sometimes the items April handles as a part of her duties are poisonous, extremely flammable, and even carcinogenic. At least once a month she has to don a respirator, a suffocating protective suit, and rubber boots as protection while she consolidates chemicals into larger drums. Temperatures in the protective suit easily exceed 100 degrees in the summer months. Finally, April is on the low end of the department's salary range taking home less than $35,000 per year.
April's coworkers understand what her job entails, but her unabashed real estate transactions during work hours are creating a toxic environment for the rest of the staff-many of whom are in the same salary range as April, but with jobs that are not as difficult.
Contributed Anonymously
Questions for Discussion
What are the ethical issues in this case?
Should management do something about this situation? What? Why?
Do April's extremely difficult working conditions factor into your decision?
How should management respond to the coworkers?