Assignment 3: The Law and Ethical Considerations
This assignment allows you to demonstrate mastery of the following course outcomes:
Analyze employment related laws, and ethical considerations their application, and implications in the workplace
Evaluate rights, obligations, and liabilities in the employment process and relationship.
Evaluate compliance with current laws and regulations related to safety and fairness in the workplace.
Effectively communicate to internal and external audiences the principles and application of employment laws and ethical considerations in the business environment.
Social Media in the Workplace
Overview: There are times when HR professionals are faced with workplace situations where the laws and policies are evolving and yet ethical considerations need to be addressed. Below is an emerging workplace situation where there is no absolute right or wrong answer, but the situation needs to be analyzed from various points of view.
Descriiption of the situation: An employee posted derogatory remarks about the organization and about another worker on Facebook. The organizationâs policies does not address free expression just âoffensiveâ and âharmfulâ speech. The supervisor is concerned that the posting was dehumanizing, humiliating and could incite hatred again persons or groups because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The supervisor comes to the HR manager to ask for guidance on how to address the employee.
Action: Respond to all questions below. Utilize resources from the class and make sure to have at least three sources as part of your final paper. Answer each of the questions in narrative form (not bullet points). Use the outline below as a way to organize your response and comments.
Applying the SHRM Code of Ethics: Describe what aspects of the SHRM Code of Ethics would apply in this situation from the perspective role of an HR professional? https://www.shrm.org/about-shrm/Pages/code-of-ethics.aspx
Legal and Ethical Considerations: What are the various considerations that need to be discussed regarding facts, affected parties, and who should be involved?
Identify and summarize the relevant facts. Describe key facts along with any policies, procedures, guidelines, best practices, applicable laws and regulations, and handbooks/internal publications.
Identify affected parties. Describe who is likely to be impacted.
Identify who should be involved in any resolution. Identify who, as well as when and why they should be involved.
Possible Courses of Action: What might be some possible courses of action as it relates to the following:
What are potential legal remedies that can be taken?
What policies or procedures need to be reviewed, revised, or created?
What role should the HR professional play in this situation?
What kind of employee training might be needed in the future to address this concern?
What advice would you as the HR professional provide to the supervisor?
Formatting directions for this assignment #3.
Use the bolded headings found in the outline above in your paper to denote the different questions.
Paper must be in APA 7.0 style, narrative format (not in bullet points nor PowerPoint).
Should be approximately 2-4 written narrative pages, double spaced
Include a cover page which should have student name and title of your paper.
Include a reference section at the end of your paper with at least 3 citations/references in APA 7.0 style format.
Use a word-processing software and saved with a .doc, .docx, or .rtf extension. Do not submit in a pdf format.
Upload the paper to your Assignments Folder by the due date.
The paper is to be posted in Assignment #3 drop box.
The grading rubric for this assignment is in the Assignment Folder, or can be opened by clicking on the \’Assignment #3 Grading Rubric\’ tab in the lower right corner of the screen if you opened the Assignment in Content.
Additional Reference Material
How to Create an Effective Social Media Policy (SHRM)
Sample Social Media Policy (SHRM)
Updated 2022