Moral Dilemmas
Kickbacks
An Engineer demanded 25% kickback in secret payments for highway work contracts he issued. In 1967, he made such an offer to Allan, a 32 year old civil engineer who was vice president of a young and struggling consulting firm greatly in need of the work. Allen discussed the offer with others in the firm, who told him it was his decision to make. Finally Allen agreed to the deal, citing his concern for getting sufficient work as a main reason to his employees.
Waste dumping
“On a midnight shift, a spoiled solution of sodium cyanide, a reactant in an organic synthesis, was temporarily stored in drums for reprocessing. Two weeks later, the day shift foreman could not find the drums. Roy, the plant manager, found out that the batch had been illegally dumped into the sanitary sewer. After investigation, he finds out that no apparent harm has resulted from the dumping.”
Should Roy inform government authorities, as is required by law in this kind of situation?
I have a wife and kids...
Older engineers, in particular, find job security in competition with ethical dilemma. I recall the dilemma of an older PE, approaching retirement, was confronted by a new GM of the plant in which the older PE was employed as a facilities engineer. For a plant expansion, the GM insisted that the PE reduce footings and structural steel specifications below the approved standards. The PE was told to choose between his job and his seal on the plans. Did he really have a choice?
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