GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Ethics Case Study - 8 | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

An apparel manufacturing company having a large number of women employees was losing sales due to various factors. The company hired a reputed marketing executive, who increased the volume of sales within a short span of time. However, some unconfirmed reports came up regarding his indulgence in sexual harassment at the workplace. After sometime a women employee launched a formal complaint to the management against the marketing executive about sexually harassing her.
Faced with the companies' indifference, in not taking cognizance of her grievances, she lodged an FIR with the police. Realizing the sensitivity and gravity of the situation, the company called the women employee to negotiate. In that she was offered a hefty sum of money to withdraw the complaint and the FIR and also give in writing that the marketing executive is not involved in the case. Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. What options are available to the women employee? (UPSC MAINS GS 4 )

Ethical issues involved: 

• Sexual harassment of women at workplace 
• Abuse of power by marketing executive 
• Lack of proactivity on the part of management to take suomoto cognizance of sexual misconduct 
• Non-responsiveness of internal complaints system 
• Attempt to offer monetary allurement in return of modesty and dignity of woman 
• Loss of integrity of the management 

Possible options available to woman: 

• Rejecting the offer of the management and continue with filing of the FIR 
• Accepting the offer and withdrawing the complaint but not giving in writing that executive was not guilty 
• Accepting the offer and freeing the executive from all allegations in writing 
• Continue with legal proceedings and resign from the job and start looking for alternates 
• Raise a #MeToo movement inside the firm to get the management in action 
• Refuse the offer of money but take back the complaint and work silently to raise a #MeToo movement within 

Analysis of contending pulls in above options: 

• The woman needs to keep in mind that such actions at workplace don’t affect the individual victim only. Her actions will set a precedent also for future such cases. If she get allured by the monetary offer and takes back her complaint, all such allegations, even if genuine, will be seen with suspicion. It will also discourage victims from opening up. 
• So, her individual action will have a social component to it. She should understand it and act accordingly. Moreover, her own character will be judged in wrong ways if she withdraws the complaint. She will lose credibility for all times to come . But on the other hand, there is an imminent threat that if she doesn’t cooperate with the management, she may lose her job. This will bring her material hardship. 
• In our society, even if law is on the side of the victim, societal sanctions are invariably on the women in such cases. It will be difficult for her to find the next job with this record. If she is dealt with a strong hand and fired, it will silence other women due to fear of losing job. 
• So, she has to strike a delicate balance between her social responsibility, her own dignity and her harsh material necessities. Bravado should not be her motivation but cool headed approach that attempts to eradicate this evil in society possibly with maintaining her material self-sufficiency.