Organizational Disobedience - Chapter 7 - Part B - Engineering Ethics Course

Summary

This video explores the concept of organizational disobedience, highlighting its importance in promoting ethical behavior within companies. It discusses three forms of disobedience: contrary action, non-participation, and protest, illustrating how employees can responsibly refuse to comply with unethical practices. The video emphasizes that companies should respect employees' rights to express their beliefs and not retaliate against them for doing so. It calls for organizations to honor legitimate requests for non-participation and avoid placing employees in moral dilemmas, ensuring a culture of integrity and respect for personal values.

Takeaways

• 😀 Disobedience can be a responsible action when authority is wrong.
• 😀 Responsible disobedience and civil disobedience are critical in modern society.
• 😀 Rules and regulations must evolve with societal changes to remain relevant.
• 😀 There are three forms of organizational disobedience: contrary action, non-participation, and protest.
• 😀 Contrary action involves taking steps to mitigate the harm caused by an organization's practices.
• 😀 Non-participation occurs when employees refuse to engage in work that contradicts their moral beliefs.
• 😀 Protest is a public declaration of disagreement with an organization's practices, often as a last resort.
• 😀 Employees' external activities and lifestyles should not be judged by their employers.
• 😀 Companies must respect employees' requests for non-participation based on moral grounds.
• 😀 Ultimatums that force employees to choose between their values and job security are unethical.

Q & A

What is organizational disobedience?

Organizational disobedience refers to the act of refusing to comply with authority when that authority is deemed to be incorrect or harmful.

What are the three forms of disobedience discussed in the video?

The three forms are disobedience by contrary action, non-participation, and protest.

Can you give an example of disobedience by contrary action?

An example would be an employee volunteering for a tree planting initiative to counteract their company's excessive tree cutting.

What does non-participation entail?

Non-participation involves an employee refusing to engage in work that conflicts with their moral beliefs, such as declining to work on a harmful product.

What leads employees to protest?

Employees may resort to protest when they feel that their concerns have been ignored and that drastic change is necessary.

Is disobedience punishable by companies?

Ideally, it should not be punishable as it involves employees exercising their freedom of speech and self-expression.

What are companies legally obligated to respect regarding their employees?

Companies are legally obligated to respect their employees' personal lives, lifestyles, and beliefs without interference.

What should organizations do in response to legitimate non-participation requests?

Organizations should honor these requests, especially when the reasons for them are well-founded.

What is a potential consequence of companies intervening in employees' personal lives?

Intervening could lead to discrimination and violation of privacy, which may have legal repercussions for the company.

What is the importance of freedom of speech in the context of organizational disobedience?

Freedom of speech is crucial as it allows employees to voice their concerns and advocate for ethical practices without fear of retaliation.