Moral Rights and Wrongs at the Logistics and Service Company

Abstract

“There is a big difference between what we have the right to do and what is right”~ Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart (Lennon, 2008). The above quote illustrates how decisions made by a company or individual; although legal or the law can possibly violate ethical standards. Ethics as we remember, is the knowing the difference between right and wrong; and doing what is right. Whereas, being legal has to do with the following of legislative laws. Given, this information, this discussion will provide two examples of moral rights and moral wrongs the Logistics and Services Company (LSC) can find themselves involved in and provide justification as to why each example is correct or incorrect.

As we are reminded LSC owns cruise ships that can be registered in a foreign country; to avoid the United States wage and labor laws and become subject to liability of the state of which the flag is flown. Legally, by choosing certain countries, such as Liberia and the Bahamas, the company limits claims of negligence, contractual, wage and labor laws, etc. Ethically, the company knows what they are doing is minimizing their responsibility in following like laws in the United States; to pay comparable wages, adhere to safe working procedures, and be held accountable for violations. The above practice is legal, but morally incorrect. LSC should adopt the same practices they would want for themselves.

Another example is the tickets given to passengers upon boarding the ship, that state, “ …all claims made by said passengers will be heard in a third world country that has different laws then what they know and understand”. Consider Mr. and Mrs. Lowell for instance, they were robbed and the husband severely injured by ‘bad’ employees. Upon returning home, Mrs. Lowell asks the owner of the ship to make recompense for injuries and loss. Because she is considered to be the property of her husband in this country, she has no legal recourse… Therefore, legally LSC is not responsible, but is morally incorrect in their practices. LSC should again adopt practices that everyone is afforded in the United States; accept the complaint and pay any damages.

Listed below are two examples of doing what is right and not just what we have the right to do (Lennon, 2008). As the Vice President of Risk Management, I have been notified that some employees are participating in practices outside of work; that is illegal and minimize safe performance of job duties while at work. Upon my investigation, I find out that these employees are being supplied drugs by other executives of the company; for financial gain. I have no control over what one does outside of the job, but have to ensure that no disdain or potential lawsuits arise from these individuals. Therefore, I advise my superiors of the issues, instruct all involved that they will be required to take a drug test, and if found to have drugs in their system they will be immediately fired. As for the executives supplying the drugs, not only will they fired but the police would be called.

Lastly, you work at LSC’s spirits and wine manufacturing facility; where your job is to inspect bottles for possibly tainting throughout production. Your supervisor tells you that the products being produced are to be shipped in two hours to a top notch client; with no delays. As your supervisor leaves you notice bottles filled with glass and know that somewhere down the production line broken glass has entered the product. What do you do? No one knows this but you. If you don’t make the quota in time you may be terminated. But you also know that if this tainted product makes it to the public, LSC will be held accountable for fatalities and other law suits and you again may be terminated. Of course the choice is simple… you will tell your supervisor of the problem so it can be fixed. In doing so you may miss your quota and lose the customer, but by your decisions many customers’ lives are saved and the integrity of the company is still in place.

In conclusion, LSC continues to be a highly reputable corporation; one in which employees and consumers can depend on to make not only the best decision, but the right decision when conducting business. Therefore, LSC adheres to all established policies and procedures within and outside of the company.

References

Lennon, J. (2008, October). Ethics & morals: An explanation of the difference. Retrieved March 9, 2010, from the Associated Content Web site: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1101935/ethics_morals_an_explanation_of_the.html?cat=17