Business Ethics - Discrimination
Business Ethics – Term Paper
March 21/13
Discrimination
Introduction
Discrimination is defined as distinguishing something from something else (i.e. don’t hire him because he has no experience). Unjustified discrimination is distinguishing something from something else on a basis that is not justified (i.e. don’t hire him because he is black). The term discrimination commonly replaces the term unjustified discrimination in business, philosophy, psychology and day-to-day community life.
In a just and fair society, such as we Canadians aspire to, a job applicant’s race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, orientation, mental ability, or physical condition should not disadvantage them in career choices or job competitions. If a short Asian female firefighter can do the job, she should get the job. Conversely she should not expect to receive concessions that are not available to all; that is in effect also discrimination.
Unfortunately, discrimination often arises in business in regards to hiring, job placement, wage, and promotion.
Affirmative Action
Ideally, discrimination should be of no concern at all; everyone should have an equal opportunity to anything. In a perfect world a hiring manager would not have to think thoughts such as, “They are disabled, they are women, they are aboriginal,” and would only think, “This person will be perfect for the job because….”
Unfortunately this may never completely happen. For example if a person in a wheelchair applies to be a stock person at Costco and another person who is not in a wheelchair applies for the same position the manager will be debating, “Should I hire the person who cannot walk because I want to be socially responsible? Or should I hire the person who can walk, who will probably do a better job and who I won’t have to make special accommodations for?”
Another example is a man and a woman who are applying to be a nurse on the obstetrics ward; they have both just graduated and have exactly the same
March 21/13
Discrimination
Introduction
Discrimination is defined as distinguishing something from something else (i.e. don’t hire him because he has no experience). Unjustified discrimination is distinguishing something from something else on a basis that is not justified (i.e. don’t hire him because he is black). The term discrimination commonly replaces the term unjustified discrimination in business, philosophy, psychology and day-to-day community life.
In a just and fair society, such as we Canadians aspire to, a job applicant’s race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, orientation, mental ability, or physical condition should not disadvantage them in career choices or job competitions. If a short Asian female firefighter can do the job, she should get the job. Conversely she should not expect to receive concessions that are not available to all; that is in effect also discrimination.
Unfortunately, discrimination often arises in business in regards to hiring, job placement, wage, and promotion.
Affirmative Action
Ideally, discrimination should be of no concern at all; everyone should have an equal opportunity to anything. In a perfect world a hiring manager would not have to think thoughts such as, “They are disabled, they are women, they are aboriginal,” and would only think, “This person will be perfect for the job because….”
Unfortunately this may never completely happen. For example if a person in a wheelchair applies to be a stock person at Costco and another person who is not in a wheelchair applies for the same position the manager will be debating, “Should I hire the person who cannot walk because I want to be socially responsible? Or should I hire the person who can walk, who will probably do a better job and who I won’t have to make special accommodations for?”
Another example is a man and a woman who are applying to be a nurse on the obstetrics ward; they have both just graduated and have exactly the same