Which scenario represents an ethical dilemma in the workplace?

• A. Choosing to report a safety issue even if it’s inconvenient.
• B. Ignoring a safety issue to meet a deadline.
• C. Accepting a bribe for favorable treatment.
• D. Revealing confidential information to friends.

Answer: (A)

In the workplace, an ethical dilemma arises when you must choose between two morally legitimate options that pull in different directions. Reporting a safety issue even if it’s inconvenient shows this clash clearly. You’re weighing the obligation to keep people safe and comply with regulations against the costs of speaking up—like delaying work, creating friction, or slowing down a project. Choosing to do the right thing despite those downsides embodies the struggle at the heart of an ethical dilemma: you want to act ethically, but doing so comes with real trade-offs.

The other scenarios don’t present the same kind of competing moral values. Ignoring a safety issue to meet a deadline sacrifices safety for speed, which is a straightforward ethical lapse. Accepting a bribe is a clear, illegal violation of ethics and integrity. Revealing confidential information to friends breaches trust and privacy.