The Ethics of Helping Inept Co-Workers
Webcast Q&A: Sunday, 8 January 2012, Question 3
I answered a question on the ethics of helping inept co-workers on Philosophy in Action Radio on 8 January 2012. You can listen to or download the podcast segment below – or check out the whole episode.
Is it moral to help inept co-workers? On my team at work, we have only a very few people who use their time productively. We all get paid for 8 hours of "work", every day, but most of my team would rather talk on their phone, hide from management, and underperform at their job. We also belong to a union, which makes it harder for management to fire the ones who don't work despite being informed about the situation. I often find myself in the position of helping these people, or going in behind them and fixing their work. I am beginning to feel taken advantage of, and am getting fed up with most of my co-workers. Is it moral to continue helping people who do not take their own work seriously?
My Answer, In Brief: There's no injustice or other moral problem with doing mission-critical work for your company, even if not your area, provided that you're honest and compensated fairly.
Tags: Co-Workers, Ethics, Honesty, Justice, Sacrifice, Work
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About Philosophy in Action Radio
I'm Dr. Diana Hsieh. I'm a philosopher specializing the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My dissertation defended moral responsibility and moral judgment against the doubts raised by Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Wednesday evenings, I interview an expert guest about a topic of practical importance.
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