Ethical Awareness: Evaluate each scenario by considering its potential impact on the organization's values and compliance with ethical standards, alongside an assessment of the scenario's potential to disrupt the company's operational processes and strategic goals to distinguish between ethical issues and risk issues. An ethical issue is a question of honesty and transparency. Governance issues can arise in financial reporting and accounting practices, employee treatments and labor practices, supplier relationships and ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, data privacy and cybersecurity, and corporate governance and Board responsibilities. A risk issue is a potential threat that can impact the organization's ability to achieve its strategic goals.$$Risk issues include technological disruptions, regulatory changes, economic downturns, failure to innovate, talent management challenges, and reputation damages.

Scenario $-$ Ethical Behaviors and Dilemmas

Scenario #$1$

After the company enjoyed a good year in $2019,$ Robert was thinking about giving bonuses of $15\%$ to all members of his staff. Early in $2020,$ Robert received an e$-$mail from his cousin, Nancy, who graduated from Baruch College with a BBA in accounting in June $2020.$ Nancy is in the United States on a student visa. She tells Robert that if she does not get a permanent job in the United States within two months, she will have to return to her country of birth where there is little work for American$-$educated accountants. Although Accountants LLC was not specifically looking for an additional accountant, after thinking about it for some time, Robert decided to hire Nancy as an entry$-$level accountant to allow her to remain in the United States. To find funds for hiring her, Robert decides to forego awarding the $15\%$ bonus he was considering and instead orders a bonus of $12\%.$

Scenario #$2$

One day, Robert learns that New York City has started a program to help small businesses. The program provides tax breaks and other benefits for Manhattan$-$based businesses that have fewer than $15$ full$-$time employees. Since Accountants LLC has $15$ full$-$time employees, it would be ineligible for the program. Robert decides to fire Michael, the most junior accountant at the firm, which now makes the firm eligible for the program.

Scenario #$3$

Ron Jones, VP of a large construction firm, receives in the mail a large envelope marked "personal". It contains a competitor's cost data for a project that both firms will be bidding on shortly. The data are accompanied by a note from one of Ron's subordinates saying: "This is the real thing!" Ron knows that data could be a major advantage to his firm in preparing a bud that can win the contract. What should he do$?$

Scenario #$4$

Kay Smith is one of your top$-$performing subordinates. She has shared with you the desire to apply for promotion to a new position just announced in a different division of the company. This will be tough on you since recent budget cuts mean you'll be unable to replace anyone who leaves, at least for quite some time. Kay knows this, and in all fairness, has asked your permission before she applies. It is rumored that the son of a good friend of your boss is going to apply for the job. Although his credentials are less impressive than Kay's, the likelihood is that he will get the job if she does not apply. What will you do$?$