Pump and dump
The perfect Labor Day party game: solving a labor dilemma from today's "Ethicist" column in the New York Times:
Question: "My manager wants to complete our project early and thus save money by laying off many of the support personnel (testing, quality assurance, documentation). To motivate the engineers, he has offered us a bonus pending early completion. Is it ethical for me to profit by firing others or for my manager to put me in this position? "
Think about how you might answer this question, then without reading the Ethicist's answer, click on the Comments link below and tell us how you'd answer the question. Then, and only then, read the Ethicist's answer here. (Free registration to New York Times website required.)
Comments
I hate it, but Yes, I think it is. It's the companies call. The company can hire and fire and it's about the bottom line.
Now would I take my bonuse and go find a human being to work for? You bet!
Posted by: Eve | September 3, 2003 09:57 AM
Yes, the company has the right to make that call but I think that as an Engineer on the project, it is your responsiblity to voice your opinion as to how these cuts would affect the outcome of the project. By cutting out Testing, Quality Assurance and Documentation, is that going to lower the qaulity/dependability of the final product? Why were these aspects scheduled into the project in the first place? Were they put in to pad the budget or were they considered a valued and necessary part of the project? Is the manager making these cuts to make himself look good by bringing the product in earlyand under budget and then planning to jump ship before it actually gets to the conpleted stage?
I'd say go over his head and speak to upper management to voice your opinion. Who knows, maybe they will toss him out on his project jeopardizing ear and give you his position to see the project to completion.
: )
Darren
Posted by: Darren Isabelle | September 3, 2003 01:13 PM