Business Ethics - Downcity Motors Case Study

Introduction

Technological advancement has created a new challenge in the workplace concerning the use of social media. The Institute of Business Ethics (2010) define social media as an umbrella term to describe social interaction through technology-based tools such as internet forums and social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, and blogs among others). The use of social media is an area of concern for managers since it brings new dynamics to its impact on an organisation. Its unique characteristics compared to the traditional media make it a significant challenge since it has a fast speed and wide scope such that its content is instantaneously available to a global audience. Cilliers (2013) notes that the influence of social media on workplace dynamics cause serious ethical challenges if unregulated. Primarily, social media gives everyone a voice that can spell doom for a company if the employees misuse this platform. As the Institute of Business Ethics (2019, p. 1) notes, social media is a source of ethical dilemma in business environment with three areas of concern: (i) potential conflicts between personal values and corporate values; (ii) boundaries surrounding what information is considered ‘private’; and (iii) the filters about what comes into the public domain.

This report examines the use of social media at the workplace by exploring the ethical concerns and consequences of inappropriate use of technology on the business, employees and other stakeholders. The report is founded on the assumption that employees have an ethical obligation to act in the interest of the organisation by ensuring they comply with effective use of social media to safeguard the identity and reputation of the firm. On the other hand, the organisation has a responsibility to guide its employees on the best practices in using social media for private purpose such that their action has no negative impact on the firm. The report illustrates what managers should do when employees use their social media accounts in ways that harm the business reputation and brand.

Background

The impact of technology in the workplace is indisputable. Technology plays a critical role in influencing employment. According to Cilliers (2013), a survey of 1400 college students shows that 56% are unwilling to work in a company that bans access to social media or they would find ways to circumvent corporate policy. This shows that the use of social media is a significant motivation for millennial when choosing an organisation to work. Social media provides opportunities for employees to communicate and share their workplace experiences with co-workers, friends, and relatives. However, sharing work-related experiences can compromise the interests of the organisation especially when the experience is negative and touches on an important issue concerning the business. Nonetheless, the use of social media can benefit the firm when the employees incorporate organisation values into their social media use. Organisations mitigate the risk of negative use of social media by providing a social media policy that restricts or limits the content employees can share regarding the company. According to the Institute of Business Ethics (2019), organisations should consider the positive and negative consequences of social media use on the employees and the business. In particular, the content posted by employees outside the workplace is significant as it could exhibit conflicting values. The business must ensure employees have and live ethical values by providing a shared culture through a social media policy.

A social media policy is a guidance framework that provides practical assistance on the use of social media by an employee. Social media policy is important in regulating employee behaviour not only to improve productivity by eliminating distraction as illustrated by Cetinkaya & Rashid (2018) but also to ensure the use of social media is appropriate and in the interest of the business. An effective social media policy should ensure consistency with the organisational values, be in harmony with existing policies, and adhere to the laws and regulations of the country. Moreover, it guides how employees use social media on behalf of the company and personal use. The policy helps workers understand the risks that arise from inappropriate use of social media and influences them to consider if their use relates to their work, aligns with organisational values, or has negative consequences to the firm.