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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Diane Swanson, 785-532-4352, swanson@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/swansonbio.html
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415.
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Monday, Aug. 11, 2008

K-STATE BUSINESS ETHICS EXPERT SAYS EMPLOYEE AFTER-HOUR USE OF OFFICE SUPPLIES OR PERSONAL TIME ON THE INTERNET SHOULD BE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE

MANHATTAN -- Ever felt a twinge of guilt dumping a few office pens in your briefcase? Wondered whether it's OK to check the score of the game using your office computer? A Kansas State University business professor and ethics expert says that while she is not condoning stealing, these concerns should be put in perspective.

"I'm not dismissing it as a legitimate question but, for one thing, it pales in comparison to the massive highway robbery that has gone on at the top of organizations because of corporate scandals," said Diane Swanson, professor of management at Kansas State University's College of Business Administration. She is the college's von Wadden Business Administration Professor and founding chair of the Business Ethics Education Initiative.

Swanson advocates for more intensive teaching of ethics in business colleges. She is the author of the forthcoming book "Toward Integrative Corporate Citizenship: Research Advances in Corporate Social Performance" with Marc Orlitzky. She also wrote "Advancing Business Ethics Education 2008," co-edited with Dann Fisher, K-State associate professor of accounting.

Swanson said that for many employees, snagging a sticky note here or a stapler there is nothing compared with the amount of time at home and on vacation that they spend plugged in to work, thanks to technology that makes it increasingly possible.

Moreover, Swanson said that telecommuting employees and others working outside the office should be given the tools they need to do their work, wherever they do it.

"If an employee does work at home, I would think that some organizational resources would be provided," Swanson said. "I know from teaching managers and other employees that even away from work, many are still on company time. They just don't stop working.

"If employees are in that kind of job where they're working at home and while they're traveling, the institution needs to take the burden of choice off employees. Taking a ream of paper home and wondering if you have to be sneaky about it is not good for the employee, and it is not good for morale. I'd put it to the managers to work that out with employees and have an open discussion and an open understanding."

Swanson said that doesn't mean that laptops and other such equipment are in the same category.

"I do think that the organization would want to have more accountability the higher the price tag of the item," she said.

Swanson said it's best if a direct supervisor is also the one who decides whether letting an employee bring the office to the home office is worthwhile -- and fair -- to the rest of the organization. For many businesses, she said, having a written policy is ideal, as long as it encourages productivity, innovation and creativity.

"I think it's up to the organization to have a policy and then for the employees to know that policy,” she said.

"Having said that, it's kind of touchy when you have employees who stay after hours and work through lunch while mixing business and personal tasks. Does the organization want to punish them for getting on Facebook while they are also contributing to the bottom line? Common sense should dictate."