Case 13: Family Business
1. What are the ethical issues in this case?
2. Is a family business different from other types of businesses with respect to employee
treatment?
In terms of ethical treatment, you could easily argue that all employees should be treated equally
whether it is a family business or not. In practice, many small business owners give preferential
3.
ng her
relationship with her boss, Eddie) or to report the practice to Brad, the owner (thus risking
retaliatory action by Eddie). Other issues include: Does Jane have an ethical obligation to Brad to
4. What should Jane have done? Why?
One reasonable course of action would have been to meet with Eddie and to tell him he ought to