Essay: Changing Techfite’s corporate policy to create ethically strong culture

Techfite’s first corporate policy should be that employee benefit packages offered for full time employees should be a healthcare package that supports the employees in the now and later of life. The second benefit that will be offered for these employees is permissive leave. The last benefit we should incorporate is working with our local community high schools and colleges to offer a internship program.
A1.
We offer a healthcare package for now and later.
Employees who work full time, 30 hours or more per week for periods longer than 90 days are eligible for medical, dental, vision, pharmaceutical benefits to help with the “now” stage of life. At Techfite we are concerned with the long term of our employees so we will offer a retirement plan with a matching program to help our employees work towards a fast retirement. Employees who do not qualify for this due to hours worked may be eligible for a discounted rate for the same programs. The purpose of these benefits is to show our employees that we care about them, both full time and part time. Our benefits packages should entice qualified candidates to apply at Techfite.  With the retirement plan, that shows our employees that we are concerned about their future and want to help make sure they are able to retire when they are ready. By establishing a caring culture with our employees, we can ensure their loyalty to our company. When employees have a job they love, with benefits they, and their families, can use now and a forward thinking attitude, we can expect them to stay here until retirement.
Permissive leave among all employees.
At Techfite we understand 9 to 5 is not ideal for most families. While we expect most employees to be able to work these long hours, we want our employees to have a good work life balance. We want to invest in our people by giving them the opportunity to work the hours they need, based on their lives.  Employees have families, emergencies happen, this is why we will provide the permissive leave for all employees. Instead of having standard paid time off we will allow full time employees a 15 day vacation period each year in addition to our permissive leave policy. We want our families to have a work life balance and not miss out on important life events. By giving them these benefits we hope that our employees see that we know they have a life outside of the office. Employees will be assigned a number of hours that will be allotted throughout the week and they may work those hours as they please- both part time and full time. This will continue our culture of caring for our employees which will create a stronger acceptance of our company with our employees.
Mentoring our future.
One of the things our company prides itself on is being actively involved in our communities. One of the ways we can showcase our community involvement is to offer mentorships and internships for our local high school and college students. We currently have strained relationships with the community, by taking interest and showing that we care for our community and the future leaders of the community it will allow for a good basis for a reconciliation of a relationship. These students may choose from a variety of positions of shadow, assist, or intern with through a 12 week course. During the 12 week mentorship they can showcase our community involvement, our leadership culture, and how we are working to improve our employees lives- now and later.
A2.
Ethical issues are when we must choose between a right and wrong. The issue of what we should do based on our moral standards. Ethically, Techfite has made promises that they have not followed through on because of financial obligations and are now seeing the repercussions from the community in which they are in.
Whereas, legal issues are more of a requirement or law. Ethical issues are based on your world view, culture, and moral guidance. Legal issues are more of how the law should be read instead of a basis of right and wrong morally. While Techfite has not legally done anything wrong yet, they will experience backlash from employees and community due to their financial mismanagement.
A3.
The three ethical issues we will discuss are conflict of interest, misuse of resources, and whistleblowing. Legally, Techfite has not done anything wrong. Ethically, however there are some issues. The first being the conflict of interest- due to financial mismanagement the promised full time employees are not receiving the benefits that were promised to them when they were hired. Upper management is receiving huge payouts. While there is no legal issues here, there is a mistrust between employees and management.  Another promise made that has not been kept is to restore and invest in the community of Dellberg. This has truly faltered the opinions of those in the community. It is hard for outsiders in the community to see the community going bankrupt, while we are paying out hefty bonuses to our upper management, we have not kept our promises and have misused our resources. It is in our best interest to rebuild the city as promised to show that we do care about employees, and their communities.  The last ethical hurdle we have is whistleblowing which is taking place in our workplace. Employees are complaining among each other and outside of the organization instead of reporting issues as needed to internally.
A4.
Due to the whistleblowing which is being heard, and the ethical issues within our community it may be wise to appoint an Ethics Officer. This person would be able to serve our employees and management officials for all ethical issues internally- complaints, conflicts of interest which pertain to our values, mission, and culture; allegations and other issues as they arise. This individual may also provide advice for government issues.  This officer would monitor unethical activities and events within our company and set up an anonymous reporting system for employees to report to without risking backlash from supervisors or other employees.
B.
Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an ethical term that businesses use to describe how they are ensuring that they are in active compliance with all forms of legal and ethical standards. It also keeps the environment and community affects from the business in mind. By implementing CSR in Techfite’s system it would change the perceived outlook and behaviors towards the community and employees. B y implementing CSR, would help the cutting of employee hours, and using the bonuses given to top executives to better the community.
B1.
The two main ways TechFite could improve their company reputation are by giving employees full time hours and benefits as well as improving the community around them. If TechFite has reduced hours to compensate executive bonuses then they do not have pay out benefit packages to employees. These employees have now taken their complaints outside of work, which adds to the already negative perception. Since TechFite has not held their promises to the community and restoring the community, and rebuilding the youth programs. Also, TechFite hasn’t held true to their promise to the community. They promised to rebuild the city, support community events and youth programs. The company has not held true to its own core values of employee empowerment and engagement and being involved in the community. If they want to succeed they need to showcase and uphold their ideas and follow through with their commitments. Currently, they are acting unethically.
B2.
The first step would be to redesign the executive bonuses. TechFite needs to use these bonuses elsewhere to either rebuilding the community or to move part time employees to full time positions. This would improve employee morale and make employees more likely to be happy in the work place. This would be an ethical solution with the employees. To improve their environmentally responsible they should use a part of the bonuses to rebuild the community, add parks and invest in local businesses to show that they care about the community outside of the four walls that are our building. Lastly, to improve our social involvement, we should host career fairs, city events, and charity events throughout the city. These three suggestions will allow for Techfite to improve on their commitments to the community and their employees which they originally promised.
B3.
By following these suggestions mentioned in B2 TechFite would be complying to an ethically strong culture and following the company’s core values: actively engaging with the community and empowering employees. These values need to be the solid foundation in which they rebuilt the company from the current unethical state. By doing right by their employees and giving the full time to the part time and full benefits they are following an ethical standard. By creating and rebuilding the community they are being environmentally responsible. By recreating events and festivals and getting involved in the community they are being socially responsible. These new standards will show to the community that TechFite cares about their community, employees, and wants to create and environment for businesses to thrive in.