Ethical dilemmas
Each month we present a fictional ethical dilemma which you can use to give your ethics a 'workout' and explore ethical decision-making.
Browse all of our ethical dilemmas below. Click on the links to read each one in full, where you can also leave a comment.
Learn more about ethical decision-making.
If you have an ethical dilemma, our free Ethics Counselling service, Ethi-Call, may be of assistance.
A green business and life outside the workplace
At your work you have a bin for general waste and one for recycling. One night you stay back at work and notice that the cleaner is emptying both bins into the general waste. You explain to...
Privacy and Health
You arrive home to your share house and find your housemate's computer on the couch with her Facebook page open with a message written to her mother back home discussing her recent cancer...
Animal rights and research
You are a lab technician working at a highly regarded university. While undertaking your duties you have become aware of the fact that a research student, regarded by many in the field as a rising...
How much should key staff get away with?
You are the line manager for a team of people in your company in the finance sector. One of your key staff members is excellent at her job and is known for her ability to generate a high amount of...
The ethics of declaring personal relationships in business
Your company has engaged a much smaller business to work on an important project. You are the key person responsible for liaising with the external company and you are also managing the project,...
The ethics of conflicting allegiances
You have served loyally as the deputy to the leader of your political party for a number of years. You are are very committed to the success of your party and strongly believe in all that it...
Confidentiality agreements and ethics
You are undertaking a few week's of temporary work at a large Australian resources firm. Prior to commencing work you were asked to sign a confidentiality agreement in relation to your temporary...
The ethics of respecting someone's final wishes
Your closest friend has recently passed away after a long illness. She was a prolific writer throughout her lifetime, but she never sought to have her work published and had supported herself by...
Festive season office party kiss
You find yourself in the midst of a classic office party ethical dilemma, having had too much to drink and ending up in a passionate kiss with a colleague.
You and your colleague discussed...
When to turn a blind eye
It's a windy morning in town. Walking down the main street you see that Arnold is sitting in his usual position just outside your local coffee shop. Arnold, who has been blind for several years,...
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