You are a partner in a mid-sized firm of public accountants. A junior accountant has just returned to work after taking special leave to care for her sick child. For financial reasons, she needs to work full-time. She has been having difficulties with her child’s daycare, causing her to miss a number of team meetings (which usually take place at the beginning of each day) and to leave work early. She is very competent in her work but her absences are putting pressure on her and her overworked colleagues. You are her manager, and you are aware that the flow of work through the practice is coming under pressure. One of her male colleagues is beginning to make comments such as “a woman’s place is in the home”, and is undermining her at every opportunity, putting her under even greater stress.

What are your options? What are the practical and ethical aspects of each option? What would you do?

1. Read this case and think about:
   1. Who are the stakeholders?
   2. What realistic actions might you take?
   3. How would each of these actions affect each stakeholder’s interests?

2. Briefly describe one possible solution and its possible effects on any two stakeholders.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

In this scenario there are several stakeholders to consider including the junior accountant her sick child her colleagues the firm and clients who rely on the firms services The practical and ethical ... View the full answer