"Ethics in the News" - Subgroup 6 (Fridays)

Subgroup 6, please post your ethics news blogs in this thread. Thanks!

Unfortunately, I read both the best news and worst news today... Hostess, makers of Twinkies, made awareness that it is going out of business. This is good for my weight, but bad for business. The leadership staff at Hostess are perceived as evil and incompetent, but making a business decision. I imagine, the leadership at Hostess has been embattled with motivation and courage to participate in transformation.

Joseph Rogers Jr. is the CEO of Waffle House, and just one a myriad of leaders headlining the news in a bad way. Presently Rogers is accused of forcing his personal assistant to perform various sexual acts and services during her tenure. It's important to note that these are allegations by a single individual that has yet to be presented in any form of court of justice.

Assuming the allegations are true, Rogers is exhibiting attributes of toxic leadership. The accuser stated that she endured years of unethical, illegal and criminal acts because she was a "single mother and needed her job to support herself and her son." If this is true, Rogers was clearly misleading his followers (accuser) and is leaving her worse off and some could argue that he violated her human rights by forcing her to do what she is accusing him of doing.

It's difficult to pass judgement based on allegations but if this is proven to be true, there may be a pattern to this callous behavior.

Source Article

Less than 2 years after an uprising to out one toxic leader, Hosni Mubarak, and Egypt is on the verge of another uprising to out the next toxic leader, Mohammed Morsi of the muslim brotherhood. Morsi has exhibited many attributes of toxic leadership. He was feeding followers illusions and misleading them by promising a free society, which he has demonstrated in the latest power grab, that he has no intention of implementing. His declaration of extended powers for himself is stifling criticism and building a new totalitarian regime. The violent protests and clashes between his supporters and those who want some form of a democracy shows that he is setting constituents against each other. And what should the US role be in all this? We say we are for increasing democracy in the world, and our leaders are then criticized for trying ie. Iraq, and criticized for not, ie. Iran, Syria.

As NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell has all the sources of positional power, national visibility, relevance to the league, discretion to act (bounty scandal) and the centrality of all decisions flowing through him. But is he a transformational leader or a toxic leader? Depends who you ask. Supporters say he acts in a utilitarian way, doing what is best for the league as a whole. In order to increase player safety, he is exploring alternatives to element kickoffs from the game. Shutdown Corner sports blog reports how Goodell sees his actions as the courage to assume responsibility. "A lot of times, you know the right thing to do," Goodell said. "But you have to have the courage to do it. And I think that's harder than it seems." (Farrar, 2012) Others see Goodell as a toxic leader that is hurting the game, misleading and leaving followers worse off. "New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said of Goodell's tenure as commissioner. "Also, I feel like, in large part, this bounty scandal, so to speak, is a big facade and a way to cover up the shortcomings of the league with regard to player health and safety over the last three years." (Farrar, 2012) As Nash might advise, how would you define the problem if you stood on the other side?

Farrar, D. (2012, December 6). Roger Goodell talks Chiefs, eliminating kickoffs, and player safety with TIME magazine. retrieved December 7, 2012 from http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/roger-goodell-talks-chiefs-eliminating-kickoffs-player-safety-164839047--nfl.html

US Senator Tom Harkin is in the middle of a potential ethics violation. In the article I read, Sen. Harkin exhibits moral reasoning in defending his wife against allegations that is unethical for his wife to sit on the advisory board of the institute named after Sen. Harkin. Sen. Harkin defines the situation by describing the facts and stating the ethical issue or question. The president of Iowa State University, where the institute in question is supported, claims that Mrs. Harkin is not legitimate and may be incompetent in key leadership situations. There is no mention of Mrs. Harkin making any comments to the allegations, but if she were to exhibit the elements of ethical capacity, she may be able to avoid this potential violation. This is not very easy, so she may have to have the courage to leave her post on the advisory board, even if she believes she has done no wrong.

Jacobs, J. (2012, December 7). Harkin Defends his wife after ethics criticism. Retrieved December 7, 2012 from http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121207/NEWS09/312070027/-1/COUPON/Harkin-defends-his-wife-after-ethics-criticism