Ethical Dilemma Faced by Susan in Writing a Recommendation Letter

The Ethical Dilemma Faced by Susan

Susan faces an ethical dilemma due to the requirement to write a recommendation letter for an incompetent former employee as part of a lawsuit settlement, potentially misleading future employers and impacting her professional integrity.

Explanation: The ethical dilemma faced by Susan, the manager of the human resources department in the 'Make It Cheap' company, emerges from the obligation to write a recommendation letter for Bob, an incompetent employee who has been terminated, due to legal settlement to avoid bad publicity associated with wrongful dismissal claims. The ethical conflict arises from the tension between being truthful in the recommendation and the potential harm for Susan's professional integrity, versus the company's interest in minimizing legal and reputational risks associated with the lawsuit.

Providing a false or exaggerated reference could mislead future employers, inflating Bob's qualifications and potentially leading to further competency issues down the line while also raising legal and ethical concerns for Susan and the company. On the other hand, if the recommendation letter outlines Bob's true competencies and lack thereof, it could negate the intended amicable settlement and spark another potential legal battle.

This scenario is similar to other cases where ethical dilemmas in business revolve around misrepresentation of facts for protective self-interest or reputational management, as seen in the Radin and Werhane study or the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case, which consider the impacts on employee rights and business integrity.