Reneging a Promise

Gomez, Pablo, Sanchez, Ymasa, Yu,

Zambales

FRAME THE ETHICAL ISSUE:

To accept Foot and

Balances offer and
renege his promise to
Tick and Check or not

FACTS OF THE CASE:

PART A:
Received a job offer from Tick & Check
Wanted to work at Foot and Balance
No offer from Foot & Balance yet
Has a friend at Foot and Balance

Q1: Should Billy call his friend? Why

should or should not?
Yes. Should because

Not yet committed to Tick & Check

Just asking for job offers forthcoming

Just using his connections, has opportunities

Q2: Is there any other action you

suggest Billy take prior to deciding on
the offer of Tick and Check? Why do you
recommend?
Inquire to Foot and Balance through its HR
Department
Explain his situation to Tick and Check
Ask advice of his parents, previous
professors, and friends/family

FACTS OF THE CASE:

PART B:
Called his friend
Accepted TCs offer
Received a call from FB
1 week to decide
Not yet signed any contracts with TC

Q3: Do you think it is ever right to back out of

a promise you gave to someone else? If so,
under what circumstances? If not, why?
Promise commitment by someone to do or not to
do
1. Solemn Promises marriage vows
2. Legal contracts - enforceable by law
3. Fairy Tale Promises regrettable and difficult at
the time they must be honored
4. Election Promises

Religions have similar views about

promises
Christianity oath/vow, making God as
witness
Islam forbids to break promise, Allah as
witness,

Philosophy

Immanuel Kant promises should always be kept

Consequentialist should be broken if there are
benefits

Identify the stakeholders and

interests/obligations
TC & FB Company hire the best
applicant
Billy & Other applicants work in the
company that provide their best
interests
Friends & Family
Shareholders & Employees

ALTERNATIVES:
Continue working at Tick & Check and
decline Foot & Balances offer
Renege his promise to Tick & Check and
accept Foot & Balances offer
Reject both

DECISION:

Renege his promise to Tick & Check and accept Foot & Balances
offer
EGOISM
Whatever action a person may do is
for his or her own goal.
People's actions are mainly
motivated by their own interests and
desires.
Sense of self importance
Intention: to get the job that he
wants
Character: Billy ought to do what is
best for him

DECISION:

Renege his promise to Tick & Check and accept Foot & Balances
offer
VIRTUE ETHICS
Ones character and morals determine
whether a behaviour is ethical or not.
Focus on morality of an act and
intentions
Varies on a case to case basis
Intention: to be more productive,
which will also benefit the company he
chooses to work for
Character: shows that Billy is
conciliative

DECISION:

Continue working at Tick & Check and decline Foot & Balances
offer
KANTIAN ETHICS
Duty-oriented main goal is to
determine what we are obligated
to do
Formalism focuses on the
structure of a moral judgment

Morality is not based on hypothetical

imperative but rather on a categorical
imperative

DECISION:

Continue working at Tick & Check and decline Foot & Balances
offer

You should act regardless of your own intentions

- Kant
Deontological Ethics concerned
with what people do, not with the
consequences of their actions
Do the right thing ( do it because it is
the right thing to do)
Do not do the wrong thing ( avoid it
because it is wrong)

You cannot justify an action by showing

that it produced good consequences

DECISION:

Continue working at Tick & Check and decline Foot & Balances
offer
KANTIAN ETHICS:

Intention: To keep the promise or

commitment made to Tick and Check
since the promise is binding between the
two parties involved
Character: Bill embodies loyalty and
commitment