My Answers to HWCase2, Q1

Q1. Prepare case notes on an ethics case related to ethics in the workplace. Online students: post your notes to your blog. Your notes should include the following.

A link or other citation to the case you are using, or if it is from personal experience, point that out.
A list of 8 or more important facts about the case. These could help you tell your group members or anyone or remind yourself what the case is all about.
A list of questions (3 or more) about the case.
A 4th discussion question about how computer security relates to or could relate to the case.

Answer: The source of my case is https://time.com/6086010/activision-blizzard-california-lawsuit-sexual-harassment/

Eight important facts are:

• The lawsuit alleges that gender discrimination and sexual harassment was taking place against women in the workplace.


• Gender discrimination was rampant in just about all things. The court documents list "compensation, assignment, promotion, termination, constructive discharge and retaliation." all as ways that women were discriminated against.


• In regards to sexual harassment women reported unwanted comments on their appearance, groping, as well as male supervisors flirting and pursuing the female employees under them.


• One woman killed herself after allegedly being sexually harassed on a work trip with colleagues.


• Those who came forward to HR about being subjected to such things reportedly experienced little to no help or retribution.


• Any complaints that did come forward were kept confidential and those who complained were transferred, fired, or removed from important projects.


• Women in the workplace asserted that those in high positions fostered such a culture at the company which made others feel more comfortable in taking part.


• Those executives also covered for each other. Of those who participated, only two were named in the lawsuit, one of which being the President of the company.


• The lawsuit ended with the CEO of the company still at the head, albeit with a paycut, and the company cleared of any wrongdoing, although were forced to pay an $18 million settlement. They asserted that such cases were the victim of "unfortunate circumstances" and were isolated "substantiated instances of gender harassment".

Four questions to ask about the case are:

• In this case, who would be most likely to experience moral injury in the coverup of the female employees' allegations?


• What is your opinion on the resolution of this case? Was the outcome ethical?


• If you were a supervisor, a member of HR, an executive, or even the President of the company, in what different ways would you respond/combat the problems in the company?


• In what ways could the men who were partaking in the discrimination and sexual harassment have used the internal computer systems to prevent these complains from coming out like they did? And how would you fix these problems so they couldn't be repeated?

Three additional standard questions:

• What does virtue ethics say about this case?


• What does utilitarianism say about this case?


• What does deontology say about this case?