C 206 ethical leadership EHM1 task 3

A1. Analyze how well the chosen company’s code of ethics covers the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

I have found that Target’s Code of Ethics (COE) has done an excellent job in explaining their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). They have made sure to make their online COE user-friendly, as the employees are able to select a specific area to read over by simply clicking a button. It is very apparent Target takes their CSR very seriously and are committed to helping their communities. One motto I have found that Target definitely stands behind is “We’re putting the needs of people, communities and the planet at the heart of how we work today, to help build a better tomorrow.” (A BULLSEYE VIEW, n.d.). Target has also been the recipient of several awards as a direct result of their continued CSR.

A2. Analyze how well the chosen company’s Code of Ethics covers the topic of compliance with legal mandates.

Their COE has done an excellent job of covering the importance of compliance and legal mandates. After going over the COE, every employee should have a clear understanding of their right to report any potential legal violations to the proper authorities. Target made sure to cover specific topics which could easily be identified as illegal just to avoid any possible confusion. One example would be the section on Harassment within the workplace. They made sure to give examples of what could potentially be considered forms of harassment, which included sexual jokes, racial slurs, and/or the sharing of inappropriate material.

A2a. Describe the ramifications for an organization when it is noncompliant with legal mandates.

The ramifications for a corporation who is noncompliant with the legal mandates truly depend on the severity of the offense(s) committed. Some of the harshest ramifications would be the result of failing to adhere to safety standards set forth by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), which could potentially lead to large, hefty monetary fines and/or legal action.

A2b. Describe two legal or ethical safeguards the chosen company has in place or could put in place to prevent illegal or unethical acts.

Target has two safeguards already in place to ensure they are protected from any illegal or unethical acts, which are as follows:

1. Records Management: Target has done an excellent job of delegating the responsibilities of records management to all employees, which is clearly explained in their COE. It is the employee’s responsibility to follow all recordkeeping laws and company policies. Target went as far as providing guidance on how to properly deal with specific records which may be eventually be encountered.
2. Asset Security: Found within the COE is section which clearly identifies and describes what should be considered a physical asset. They provide clear and easy instruction on how to properly care and secure these assets, which should help ensure the assets are not misplaced, stolen, and/or mishandled.

A3. Analyze how well the chosen company’s code of ethics facilitates the development of an ethical culture.

Target has clearly facilitated the development of an ethical culture by identifying certain examples of actions they would consider to be unethical. They also have gone to another level by providing a real-life scenario which would be used to provide the employee an idea of what to expect if they were to ever find themselves in the same type of situation.

A4. Explain how an employee would raise an ethical concern in the chosen company and provide three resources available to employees to use when raising an ethical concern.

Target, again, has gone out of their way to make things extremely easy for their employees to report and/or raise a concern regarding ethical behavior. The following are just three resources available to all employees:

1. Employees are able to reach out to their immediate supervisor(s) and/or Human Resource Manager(s).
2. They are provided a phone number (1-800-541-6838) that will connect them directly with the Integrity Hotline. Here they are able to anonymously provide information.
3. They are also able to submit their concern(s) via email (mailto:ethics@target.com) or by mailing their concern to: Corporate Compliance & Ethics Target Corporation 33 South 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55402.

A4a. Discuss which resource(s) you would most likely use to report an ethical concern.

I believe this would truly depend on the severity of the situation. However, if I were to have choose one, I would have to go with the Integrity Hotline. This would allow me to remain anonymous and avoid any potential retaliation or blow back. 

B1. Discuss personal and organizational factors an employee would need to consider as a last resort before deciding to blow the whistle about unethical conduct observed at work.

I believe before an employee considers raising a concern regarding unethical behavior they should ask themselves if someone else would consider the same act/situation as unethical as well. Just because a person may consider something unethical does not necessarily mean it truly is/was unethical. The employee should take into consideration the potential consequences to not only the suspected violator, but to themselves and/or the company. They should consider whether or not raising a concern will cause more harm the good to all involved. The employee needs to think about whether or not they are prepared to face any/all potential repercussion’s that may result from whistleblowing.

B2. Describe the internal and external reporting steps an employee should follow if the employee decides to blow the whistle.

Internal Processes:

1. The employee should get with a manager/supervisor to ensure someone with authority is aware you were the complainant. This would take away the employers deniability of not knowing who filed the complaint.
2. The employee should make sure they followed all company policies when filing the report. You do not want to give the employer a valid reason to issue out any punishment for failing to follow policy procedure(s).
3. The employee should make sure to properly document and securely store any/all evidence.

External Processes:

1. Once the employee has made every attempt to properly file their report internally, then they should seek assistance from an external source.
2. The employee should make sure to file their report with the proper authorities within the specified allotted time frame, which is 30 days.
3. Finally, make sure to properly and quickly document any/all attempts of possible retaliation by the employer.

C. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of whistle-blowers receiving payment from the government based on one of the following laws: 

• False Claims Act: This has been one of the most effective tools in preventing fraudulent claims against the United States Government. Some of the advantages and disadvantages are listed below:
  • Advantage: The government offers very generous rewards to whistle blowers who provide information that is found to be true. The whistle blower gains satisfaction in knowing he/she helped put a stop to the corruption he/she had witnessed or suffered from.
  • Disadvantage: The most obvious is the fact you will more than likely be looking for a new job. There is also no telling how long it will take for the government to look into the matter, which will cause a delay in receiving any type of retribution. And, you may end up losing many of your so called “friends”.

D. Analyze how the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines have changed the way organizations operate.

The implementation of corporate liability into the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines back in 1991 added a sense of urgency for corporations to ensure they are following all policies, procedures, and laws. This also caused many corporations to establish their own ethics program, which would assist in establishing internal guidelines and policies. By following these guidelines and policies, corporations would not have to worry about being noncompliant.

D1. Discuss three culpability factors that are used to determine fines under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Three culpability factors are listed below:

1. Knowingly allowing unethical and/or criminal activity to occur.
2. Another factor would be the corporation’s prior history.
3. And thirdly, any violations of court orders.