Problem:
"First, I would not feel comfortable accepting the offer. The only reason I would consider going is because of the benefits to my company by my learning about new techniques. Second, my employer would not allow me to attend the conference if it did not directly relate to my job. If the products and technology being presented would be more beneficial to another employee, they would be sent in my place.
If my company allowed me to attend the seminar, there is no way I would leave early or not attend at all to spend time with a friend. Besides being unethical, I find it rude to treat a host in that manner. I attend an annual userâ??s group meeting each year for our computer programming company. There are many people who will attend one or two classes a day and then go sightseeing the rest of the day. Their employer, who paid for the travel, hotel, meals and wages, has no way of knowing that the employee did not spend the 8 hours attending classes.
Some companies may have an ethics policy in place. For the individual, a clear statement of the compas ethics policy helps employees align their personal values with those of the organization, creating a stronger workplace bond with fellow workers and company leadersâ? (Brandl, 2002). When employees know what the company expects of them, they will usually comply. If a manager or co-worker does unethical things, employees will tend to follow and feel it is okay. Monkey see, monkey do?
The seminar is for three days, so there will be time in the evenings to spend time with my friend. There is also the option of taking some vacation time and spending a day or two after the seminar, at my own expense, to go to Epcot or golfing.
I would never ask a supplier/host for permission to miss part of the seminar to spend time with a friend. The purpose of the seminar is for the company to sell more of their products. Me being there, seeing the new technology could mean more revenue for the supplier. Maybe only eight hours of the three days are currently relevant to me, there may be new items that I will learn about that could help my job or another person's job in my company. We can't assume we know everything; there is always room to learn more."
REFERENCES:
Brandl, P., & Maguire, M. (2002). Code of Ethics: A Primer on Their Purpose, Development, and Use. Journal for Quality & Participation 25(4), 8-12. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
The above response is based on the following case scenario:
You are the purchasing manager of a midsize firm. You receive an invitation from one of your suppliers to attend a three-day, all-expenses-paid, informational seminar on new technologies in Miami, Florida. The session is located close to your best friend's home outside Miami. When you arrive at the seminar, it turns out that only about eight hours of relevant technical information will be spread out over the three-day seminar. You plan on going to the seminar at those times, but your friend wants you to play golf and go to Epcot Center when you are not in the seminar. You overhear a rumor that your company may be honored at some point for all the business it has done with the supplier. Is it ethical for you to be there or not? Is it right for you to leave for a while with your friend? Do you explain the situation to the supplier host? Why or why not?
Please provide comments in response from the perspective of the host. Discuss potential risks and benefits of following the approach described in the original post.