Day 58 – Q 3.Do you think forcing the employees to work beyond stipulated office hours is unethical? Substantiate your views.

3. Do you think forcing the employees to work beyond stipulated office hours is unethical? Substantiate your views.

क्या आपको लगता है कि कर्मचारियों को कार्यालयीन समय से बाहर काम करने के लिए मजबूर करना अनैतिक है? अपने विचारों की पुष्टि करें।

Introduction:

An unethical act is one that violates someone’s right, leads to dereliction of someone’s duty, and in general is against the normative ethical standard. 

To judge whether an act is ethical or not requires ethical analysis of the act using some ethical standards.

Body

Ethical issue in forcing the employees to work beyond stipulated office hours 

• ‘Forcing the employees’ goes against basic human dignity.
• Immanuel Kant has said that every human being must be treated as an end, never as means only. Forcing employees to work beyond stipulated office hours for corporate gain can lead to emotional and psychological distress. 
• It can be said to be modern form of slavery. 
• Less time to spend with family and friends. Low opportunity to fulfill social responsibility.     
• Right of ‘good job’ includes working during standard office hours.
• Forcing employees to work after office hours opens door to corruption and exploitation. 
• ‘Forcing the employees’ to work beyond office hour also illegal. 
• It reflects poorly on work culture, company’s management of work and man power.
• Demotivation for efficient employees who complete their task on time. 

Perspective of employer

• For higher efficiency and competitiveness hard work is needed. 
• Success of a company is team effort. 
• If employees are given enough incentive to work after office hours, it’s justified. 
• If safety and security of employees are taken care of, exploitation of employee is not happening.

However, working beyond stipulated office hours can be considered ethical if – 

• It is done with the consent of the employees. 
• Adequate compensation and care is given to the employees in line with the principle of trusteeship. 
• Enough motivation is provided to keep the efficient of employees beyond working hours. 
• Employees are considered as ‘asset’ and not ‘means’ to earn profit. 

Conclusion

‘Forcing the employees’ will be unethical as it violates fundamental ability of human being to make decision.