Thomas Lopez, a lifeguard in the Miami area, was fired for leaving his assigned area to save a drowning man. His employer, Jeff Ellis and Associates, which has a contract with the Florida city of Hallandale, said that by leaving his assigned patrol area uncovered, Lopez opened the company up to possible legal action. Lopez said he had no choice but to do what he did. He wasn’t putting his job rules first over helping someone who desperately needed help. “I’m going to do what I felt was right, and I did.” After this story hit the media, the company offered Lopez his job back, but he declined.

11-1. What do you think? What ethical concerns do you see in this situation?

11-2. What lessons can be applied to organizational design from this story?