Question

Just how far should an employee go with loyalty? Are there boundaries?

Answer 1

Answer:

Ethically speaking, a worker should develop absolute loyalty to a company, or place, he/she works for, as it shows an adaptation and acceptance of the company´s values, principles, and fundamental aspects. This loyalty will ensure that a worker will carry out his/her duty to the best of her/his ability, always in the best interest of the company at large.

However, I do believe there must be a boundary to how much loyalty a person has towards a company, and especially, when this loyalty is pushing the person to perform an activity that basically undermines that person´s own personal values and principles. So, there should be a boundary when the loyalty to a company crosses the line and overcomes the personal limitations, the concience, if you will, of a worker.

For example, if you are a nurse, and the hospital you work for asks you to hide certain information from adverse events that have taken place due to a possible malpractice, or due to institutional shortcomings, but you know that the right thing to do is to hand over such information, for the greater good of patients and their families, over the welfare of the hospital itself, then I believe that the nurse should take the necessary measures, and overcome her loyalty. This event goes over personal boundaries and surpasses any possible loyalty that a worker may be required to have.