Tips

Continuing my series of alternative responses to the New York Times column, The Ethicist, looking at the consequences of one's actions instead of imposing values on others, here is a take on today's post,"A Boy Named Dana." I have applied over email for internships with several high-tech companies in the Bay Area, and I suspect I have benefited from my potential employers' incorrectly assuming that I am a woman. Many of these companies actively seek female applicants to balance out the field's male dominance. Nowhere on my résumé do I state my gender, as that's not typically done. Do I have an ethical obligation to mention my gender in the email? By refraining from doing so, am I taking advantage of a policy designed to…

Continuing my series of alternative responses to the New York Times column, The Ethicist, looking at the consequences of one's actions instead of imposing values on others, here is a take on today's post,"The Perks of Being a Layabout." My 28-year-old son has decided to become a novelist. He recently took a part-time job at a grocery store, working just 15 hours a week to pay his bills, leaving him enough time to write. His low income qualifies him for Medicaid. He could work more if he chose to. Considering this, do taxpayers have a responsibility to provide health coverage for him? Does it matter if this is a short- or long-term strategy? NAME WITHHELD My Answer: Maybe my reading between the lines is off,…

Continuing my series of alternative responses to the New York Times column, The Ethicist, looking at the consequences of one's actions instead of imposing values on others, here is a take on today's post, "A Survey Course in Campus Ethics." I teach part time at a well-respected regional college. For the past few years, the college has accepted several students from China who do not, in my opinion, have the language skills to actively participate in my class. After two Chinese students failed the midterm exam, I approached representatives of the college and recommended that they provide these students with special assistance. The university didn't act, and those students failed my class. What obligation does a college have to foreign students? Is the college pulling…

Continuing my series of alternative responses to the New York Times column, The Ethicist, looking at the consequences of one's actions instead of imposing values on others, here is a take on today's post,"Should Free Office Food Be Taken Home?" My company offers certain food items free in our office pantry. Every morning, my co-worker Brandon eats a serving of Cheerios from the pantry while getting settled for the day. Would it be acceptable for him to take the cereal home the night before and eat it before going to the office? Brandon swears that he's more productive after he eats, and taking the cereal home would allow him to eat on his time (instead of after arriving at the office). Since the food is…