Case study Workplace solicitation Suppose you received this e mail on the office server Good morning...........

 Workplace solicitation

Suppose you received this e-mail on the office server: Good morning, I have a sample of my 2005 desk “Nigh-Sky Photography” calendar in my office if anyone would like to see it before purchasing. Please call me first to make sure I am in the office. Price is 300 INR. I am taking Diwali orders. Remember, 1/3 of the profit for the calendars goes to Sandhya (in purchasing) to help out her husband who has recently come down with MS. Thanks, Ron

It is not uncommon to receive e-mail from staff about charitable organizations trying to raise money by selling candy, magazines, or cookies as the Girl Scouts do annually.

Discussion questions

1. Should you object about such solicitation at work 1. tr organizations supporting "good" causes?

2. Does the good of helping Sandhya, a fellow employee, with the expenses associated with her husband''s MS outweigh the personal profit

motive?

3. Are the solicitations by a soccer mom to raise funds for her son''s team the same thing as this enterprising fellow who is putting

part of his profit to help a well-liked and financially troubled employee?

4. Should a public administrator see either one or both as unethical in the workplace?

5. Or is this the kind of situation where we shrug and turn our head the other way?

6. What should I do?

7. Suppose the Human Resources director asked you to draft a policy dealing with workplace solicitations, what would your policy cover? All solicitations? Some? Try your hand at drafting the policy

By: Mona Kaushal