Emergent Ethical Theories in Social Work

Question: Discuss about the Emergent Ethical Theories in Social Work. Answer: Introduction As outlined by Berger (2007), ethical and moral decision making involves making choices that respect both ethical and moral requirements of all the stakeholders. In this case, the company should take into account the normative ethical requirements in making its choices. The company should evaluate whether the choice is good or bad right or wrong and whether it is ethical. In evaluating the ethical nature, the company should look into the interests of all its stakeholders. This option involves splitting the company into two. The first to deal with the old and obsolete facilities and the second to deal with the new high tech facilities. The old facilities are labor intensive. Hence the company will be able to retain the old employees. There will be no layoffs. This decision can be viewed in line with the ethical theories and the normative standards. According to the deontological ethical theory, a decision should be made based on whether it is right or wrong (Nyangara, 2015). This is always nonconsequential approach to decision making. Retention of the old obsolete facilities has some advantages to some stakeholders. For instance, the old employees will be retained and the company will not spend money in retrenching them. Shares will be divided equally between the old facility and the new facility. This means that the old facility will not be operating in isolation, but will operate in union with the new facility, making it quite profitable. The old fac ility is also labor intensive making it attract more employment opportunities to the general public as compared to the new facility which is high tech. This makes the first option averagely beneficial to both the entity and the stakeholders who are aiming to be employed. This is a right decision which is in line with deontological theory. Conversely, maintaining the old facility results into some specific problems like emission of toxic fumes, deterioration of share values and contamination of the operating sites. These are a negative consequence that has not been considered by the deontological approach. According to Schroeder (2007), the teleological theory advocates for what is good rather than what is right. In line with this theory, the organization should consider the consequences of the decisions made. If the organization is to adopt this option, then the negative consequences such as deterioration of the value of shares and exposing the employees to dangerous fumes, which may result in spending much on compensating employees for injuries should be considered. The company should also anticipate the possibility of the old facility making more losses that may lead to eventual bankruptcy. The old facility consists of old employees who are nearing their retirement ages hence the company may lose them in the long run Therefore using the teleological approach, this option is not sensitive to the negative consequences forwarded by the decision. The main purpose of a decision in the teleological approach is to produce as much good as possible. Choosing this option is, therefore, a question of whether it is of more good to all the stakeholders involved or whether its demerits are tremendous, (Gray, 2010). Based on moral goodness, the choice should be that is sensitive to both long run and short run consequences, (Alas, 2015). This is what the teleological theory advocates for. Utilitarianism requires decisions made to result in more benefits to the stakeholders involved as compared to the disadvantages (Frederiksen, 2013). This choice, when viewed according to this principle, is required to produce more benefits. It is apparent that the old plant would result into more disadvantages to workers and the public due to the toxic fumes it emits. It is therefore against the utilitarianism principle to maintain it. Evaluation of this choice using the relativism theory imposes several considerations. These involve cultural relativism and ethical egoism. This approach advocates that there is no marking line for determining what is moral and what is right or wrong (Halawi, 2013). The choice will depend on whether it is sensitive to the cultures and condition of the community. If the community has poor health facilities, then imposing them to health risk may be detrimental. The company should also consider the interests of its stakeholders. The employees need to retain their positions in the entity and not to be laid off. The employees who are retained in the old facility may consider this choice moral while they may oppose it if they contact diseases. The decision may also lead to the bankruptcy of the old facility due to continuous loss making and deterioration of the value of its shares. Therefore individual shareholders who invest funds in the old facility may consider it immoral. This option involves shutting down the old facility and creating an agreement with Freedom Coast Ventures to deal with the waste materials from the old facility. This is a good option as it will enable the company to capitalize on the new high-tech facility, making its share prices to grow and maintain its position in the stock market. The cost of labor will also decrease as a few workers will be employed to operate the new facility. This decision also harbors some disadvantages. Liberia has experienced disease outbreaks like Ebola, and it may be immoral to expose them to dangerous fume, cancer, and neurological impairment. Although FC will provide medical facilities that would reduce the spread of these diseases, the consequences of cancer infection and the rate at which it would spread remains unknown. Utilitarianism view to this choice would recommend closure of the old facility as it is more detrimental to the stakeholders such as workers. However, it would be against this principle for the Liberians to be exposed to new diseases such as cancer. This principle requires a decision to be more benefits to the stakeholders involved. According to Bierly (2009), the teleological theory is consequential. In this case, consequences of laying off, the old employees who operate the old facility are not considered. It may be expensive for the company to compensate retrenched employees. The operations in Liberia by FC also exposes the members of the public to the great risk of contracting Cancer and neurological impairment. The company is not able to predict the gravity of these infections. It will also cause loss of jobs in Canada, and this may be viewed as immoral by the citizens who are deprived of the jobs. The closure of the old facility is a right choice. This is in line with the deontological moral theory. Which examines whether a decision is right, (Vitell, 2008).The old facility emits toxic fumes that may cause environmental pollution. The operators of this facility are also old and approaching retirement. This facility is prone to losses and is the major cause of the decrease in the value of shares of the company. Maintaining this facility makes the company more susceptible to bankruptcy. The company is composed of various stakeholders. These may include, employees, the general public, the managers and the shareholders. Therefore when looking at the relativist approach to ethics and moral behavior, it is logical to consider the various groups. The employees who are laid off may consider the decision as immoral as it is against their interests. The inhabitants in Liberia may consider the new health facilities created and infrastructure creation as moral. On the other hand, they may view exposure to new diseases as an immoral conduct. Therefore the gravity of consequences of every decision should be taken into account. Relativism provides that there is no consistent way of judging what is right or wrong and what is moral or immoral, (Copp, 2009). The decision will depend on the matters at hand. In this case, the decision does not take into account the interests of the Liberians who will be exposed to cancer. It does not take into account the costs involved in retrenchin g the old employees. This option advocates for taking advantage of the government incentives and the low-interest rates programs to finance the expansion of the high-tech facility and to demolish the old facility. This approach has some advantages. The old facility will be phased out gradually, and this will help to prevent layoffs. The old employees will, therefore, be given pensions instead of the retrenchment packages. This reduces the cost of operation. According to Frederiksen (2013), a choice is required to result in more benefits to the stakeholders. This choice would be more beneficial as it would prevent layoffs and also protect the lives and health of workers and the public as a whole by phasing out the old facility which would otherwise emit toxic gasses. Phasing out the old facility may lead to increase the share values of the company and reduce environmental pollution. It will also contribute to a decrease in the number of employees which is important in reducing operating costs. The new facility is high tech and therefore will reduce the level of workplace injuries among the employees. This option will conversely lead to loss of jobs as the high-tech facility only requires a few workers to operate. It will lead to an increase in debts, and reduced profitability. However, these are short-term consequences, and in the long run, the company will regain its profitability, pay pensions and pay its employees highly. Share prices will also increase in the long run. The above option is in line with the deontological moral approach. This approach advocates for what is right, (Bartels, 2007). It is right to phase out the old facility in a gradual way to prevent layoffs. It is also right to expand the new facility to expand production and increase profitability. The companys decision to take advantage of low-interest rates and government incentives is a prudent move that ensures low cost of operation. The option respects the teleological requirements of ethical decision making. The choice takes into account the right concept of choice. Retrenchment would not be a moral decision. To avoid this, the company has opted to phase out the old facility gradually. The company will also execute wages concessions through bargaining. Providing for environmental remedies and meeting all the pensions to employees are moral decisions. In the company, there are different stakeholders with different interests. Relativism requires the decision taken to consider the relative interests of all the stakeholders, (Xinjiang, 2007). Considering the relativism approach, the company has tried to consider ethical egoism, by taking into account the interests of employees through bargaining on wages. The interests of the old employees will also be considered through gradually phasing out the facility and then giving them pensions when they retire. The best option to adopt Going by the above explanations, the company should adopt option C. this is the only option that respects the requirements of all the four ethical theories discussed in this report. The deontological theory, the teleological theory, the utilitarianism theory and the relativism theory. The option also brings more exemplary advantages as compared to other options Conclusion In conclusion, the company should consider the normative ethical requirements in choosing the best option. The option taken should result in more benefits than disadvantages to the workers and other stakeholders. The consideration of what is best for the stakeholders should be based on whether the decision to be taken is right or wrong, good or bad, beneficial or detrimental. Taking these into account would enable the company to select the best option. The fund management should also consider the advantages of the options and their congruence with different ethical theories and approaches in evaluating the option to take. The company should adopt option C. this is the only option that respects the requirements of all the four ethical theories discussed in this report. The deontological theory, the teleological theory, the utilitarianism theory and the relativism theory. 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