Business Ethics Situational Essay

I work for a company that is at a crossroads. There are old oil barrels buried beneath the company offices. The barrels are in danger of being a hazard to the environment and the community nearby. In the years since the burial of the barrels, the company has erected a four story building on top of the ground where the barrels sit. So to clean up the land it will require the destruction of the building. Although the company desires to do the right thing, there are many factors stopping them. The biggest issue stopping the company is money. The company lacks the funds that it would take to enact the clean-up process. The CEO has decided to wait two years before she gives the go ahead to start the clean-up process. This will give the company the time it needs to accrue the funds necessary to finance the clean-up effort. As the Vice President of Research and Development and Safety, I am uncomfortable with waiting two years. I don’t think that is the proper decision. I have spent time considering all of my options I have decided that I basically have two choices since the CEO will not change her mind. First, I can quit and keep quiet, or second, keep my job but whistle-blow to the proper people. Regardless of the choice I make, there are a myriad of factors that I have to consider, and either choice presents multiple consequences. The factors and consequences of my choice will help me to take the right steps and make the decision that I feel is best for me and everyone else.
One thing I need to consider is the factual evidence we have right now. First off, we don’t know that the barrels are leaking. It is strongly believed that they are, but this isn’t a sure thing. There was no mention of tests being done to verify that there is leaking sludge coming from the barrels. With this level of uncertainty, if I go blow the whistle on my boss and friend, it could blow up in my face and end up being little more than nothing. Then I have lost a friend and likely a job. Mathieu...