Joe, the owner of abc electronics, just discovered that his trusted friend paul, his accountant for over 30 years, has been mishandling the company books and stealing from the company bank account. joe must decide whether to ignore his friend's actions and avoid bad publicity for abc electronics, or to have paul arrested for embezzlement. joe is facing: - a whistle blower - a synergy factor - an issue of corporate governance - a social audit - an ethical dilemma
The correct answer is an ethical dilemma
Ethical dilemmas arise when it is necessary to make difficult decisions taking into account moral values and whose consequences can impact the lives of others. As challenging as it may seem to decide how to act in the face of these dilemmas, it is a fact that doing the right thing is always the best way to go.
Joe is facing an ethical dilemma
The main reason why it is an ethical dilemma is because Joe and Paul are close friends, and it would be hurtful for Joe to see Paul in jail, even if he has committed a crime, for years, and against his own company.
If the accountant had been a regular employee, with no personal ties to Joe, Joe would have obviously fired him, and sent him with the police. Joe would not care whether he went to jail or not, it would not matter to him. In this situation it does matter and he has to decide what is more important, his supposed friendship with Paul, or law and order and the financial situation of his company.