The company that employs Reginald has a practice of using salaried personnel to replace striking workers and paying these people double-time pay for any work in excess of 40 hours per week, plus a 5100-per-day strike bonus. (Under ordinary circumstances. overtime pay is never granted to salaried personnel, which includes engineers.) Not having a union themselves. Reginald and his fellow engineers have been hard hit by inflation, and many would welcome the opportunity to earn extra pay. The plant is presently being struck by union operators over 'unsafe' working conditions, which Reginald personally believes may be unsafe but which are not covered.
specifically under government safety regulations. The company disputes the union's contention about safety. The strike looks as if it could be a lengthy one.
What should Reginald do?
A. Refuse to work, because he thinks the union's allegations may have merit?
B. Refuse to work, because he believes that strike breaking is unethical?
C. Work, because he believes that filling in for striking workers is an obligation of all members of management?
D. Work, because the extra pay is a great way to catch up on some of his bills or earn the down payment on a car?
E. Work, because he believes he may be fired if he doesn't?
F. Do something else? (If so, what?)
Use the four virtues, four-component model, evaluation checklist, ethics checklist, and five P's to help you analyze each of these options. (Problem adapted from Chemical Engineering, p. 132. September 1980.)