CHAPTER 1, QUESTION 3

In the question posed we are given a scenario in which we are to determine if Laura’s actions are legal and ethical or not. After considering many details, I have concluded that although her actions were not illegal, she acted in an unethical manner. She took the cases of hot dogs that were delivered to her place of work for sampling purposes to her home for a private barbecue. The cases were free of charge to the establishment but this was done as a corrective action to prior orders. This was the way in which the provider was making the situation right.

As I mentioned previously, although her actions were legal, she was unethical. She caused the establishment a loss in terms of them never being able to sample the product therefore potentially taking earnings away from the provider. The reason the provider sent the cases to begin with was because they wanted to maintain a win-win relationship with the restaurant. They would not give away free samples just because.

 “ Ethics refers to the choices of proper conduct made by an individual in his or her relationships with others. Ethical behavior refers to behavior that is considered “right” or the “right thing to do.” Consistently choosing ethical behavior over behavior that is not ethical is important to your long-term career achievements. This is so because hospitality managers often will not know what the law may actually require in a given situation. When managerial activities are examined, employers, in many cases, will simply consider whether a manager’s actions were intentionally ethical or unethical.” Dopson, Lea R. Managerial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry. Wiley, 09/2008. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.