Summative Assessment: Making Ethical and Moral Decisions

Part 1: Make Your Choice

Social Issue: Legalized Marijuana

Imagine you are the CEO of a large construction company. One of your company policies is that all job candidates complete a pre-employment drug screening. Recently, your state legalized both medical and recreational marijuana. Will you continue to require your employees to pass a pre-employment drug screening, or will you change this policy?

Ethical Theory: Utilitarianism

The legal theory I would choose to address this social issue of legalizing marijuana in the workplace is Utilitarianism. The moral theory of Utilitarianism suggests that the greatest amount of happiness can be achieved for the greatest number of people if the actions are morally right. This theory advocates for decisions and actions that are subjected to maximize the overall well-being and happiness of the members of society (Boss, 2023).

Part 2: Moral Argument

Step 1: Argument

Marijuana increases the risk of accidents at the workplace due to impaired employees so it may be inferred that enforcing pre-employment drug screenings can maximize the greatest good for the company, its employees, and society as a whole.

Step 2: Premises

The list of premises that infer the reason why pre-employment drug screening is necessary at the workplace is as follows:

1. Enforcing pre-employment drug screenings can maximize the greatest good for the company, its employees, and society as a whole.
2. Pre-employment drug screening or testing can ensure a safe workplace.
3. Eliminating pre-employment drug screening will maximize the overall happiness or well-being of the employees at the workplace.
4. Drug testing at the workplace impacts the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of an organization.
5. Drug testing at the workplace minimizes potential safety hazards for employees and those around them while on duty.
6. Drug screening minimizes risk to employees and the general public alike.

Step 3: Eliminate Irrelevant Premises

1. Enforcing pre-employment drug screenings can maximize the greatest good for the company, its employees, and society as a whole.
2. Eliminating pre-employment drug screening will maximize the overall happiness or well-being of the employees at the workplace.
3. Pre-employment drug screening or testing can ensure a safe workplace.
4. Drug testing at the workplace minimizes potential safety hazards for employees and those around them while on duty.
5. Drug screening minimizes risk to employees and the general public alike.

Part 3: Decision Regarding Social Issue

As the CEO of a large construction company, my decision regarding whether to legalize marijuana at the workplace and whether to continue requiring pre-employment drug screenings in light of legalized marijuana would be based on ensuring a safer work environment for the employees and a better environment for society as a whole. The ethical theory I chose to address the social issue is Utilitarianism which emphasizes maximizing the greatest good for the greatest number of people including the company, CEO, its employees, and the member of the society. On one hand, emphasizing the policy of pre-employment drug screening would reduce the risk of accidents at the workplace that may occur due to impaired employees and ensure a safer work environment. On the other hand, eliminating the policy of pre-employment drug screening can open up job opportunities for individuals who consume marijuana for medical purposes. Simply put, I would need to consider the potential drawbacks and benefits of continuing with the policy of legalized marijuana. Therefore, the decision regarding the policy of pre-employment drug screening would need to weigh these crucial factors to determine which action will be the most beneficial for the company, its, employees, society, and all other parties involved.

References

Boss, J. A. (2023). Ethics for life: A text with readings. (8^th ed.). McGraw-Hil.