Zarley's Ethical Dilemmas

People are often faced with making decisions that may or may not be ethical. In some instances, even illegal. The definition of ethics and law can be quite blurry. In plain terms, ethics are social guidelines pertaining to moral right and wrongs. On the other hand, laws are rules that contain legal consequences if not followed. In regards to the fact pattern, Zarley is faced with a dilemma that contains both ethical and legal aspects. The ethical issue of bribery is raised towards Zarley, a Procurement Manager at a large bank. The situation also contains legal aspects. Specifically, Zarley’s employment contract was violated. While Zarley acted ethically, the duties of the employment contract were not met. Accordingly, bribery is a form of unethical behaviour that can lead to legal issues.
Bribery is as an offering of anything of value that can persuade a person’s decision. A large amount of money was offered along with physical items as a means to influence Zarley. As mentioned before, the employment contract was breached. A contract is defined as an agreement between parties that involves legally enforceable rights and obligations (McInnes 162). Zarley’s employment contract includes the Code of Business Conduct, a provision that states engagement of bribery and other related practices will not be
Based on the ethical reasoning process of consequences, Zarley weighed the consequences of accepting the bribe. To clarify, consequences are defined as an outcome, whether positive or negative, of a certain decision (Christ Macdonald). While the initial monetary and physical rewards seem tempting, the risk of accepting it was deemed too great. If the transaction were to be publicised, Zarley could lose his career, future employment, social status, and credibility. Moreover, legal issues will certainly come up. As such, Zarley is actively avoiding the negative consequences associated with