07-2 rights

7/23/2019 07-2 rights

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The Engineer's Rights

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Rights

● What is a right?

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Rights

● What is a right?● “A legal, equitable, or moral entitlement to something.” OED

– legal – carrying the weight of law

– equitable – fair, equal, ust

– moral● “!f or relating to human character or beha"ior consi#ere# as

goo# or ba#” OED● moral point of view consi#ers others $not ust self%, ta&es 'ro(con

'osition, assumes uni"ersali)ability

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*

The Engineer's Rights

● +egal ights● “-atural” $elf/0"i#ent% ights● rofessional ights● 0m'loyee ights

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Legal Rights

● he 4ill of ights of the 5 6onstitution, amen#ments 7 – 89

7. :ree#om of religion, s'eech, 'ress, assembly, 'etition

77. ;ee' an# bear arms

777.-ot “quartering” sol#iers in 'eacetime without consent

7<.:ree#om from unreasonable searches an# sei)ures<. =ue 'rocess, etc.

<7.'ee#y an# 'ublic trial, etc.

<77.rial by ury, etc.

<777.-o e>cessi"e bail, cruel an# unusual 'unishment78.rotection of rights not s'ecifically enumerate#

8. owers reser"e# to tates an# 'eo'le

● What s'ecial status #o legal rights li&e these ha"e?

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“Natural” (Self-Evident) Rights

● :rom the 5 =eclaration of 7n#e'en#ence9

“... We hol# these truths to be self/e"i#ent, that all men arecreate# equal, that they are en#owe# by their 6reator withcertain unalienable ights, that among these are Life,

Liberty an# the pursuit of appiness. @ “● What status #o “natural” rights li&e these ha"e

● in the 5?● in general?

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The Engineer's !rofessional Rights

1. ight of 'rofessional conscience● ight of 'rofessional conscience in"ol"es

– technical u#gment – e>ercise of reasone# moral con"ictions

●

moral authority to act without unreasonable interference fromothers

● ustification?

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1. ight of 'rofessional conscience● ight of 'rofessional conscience in"ol"es

– technical u#gment – e>ercise of reasone# moral con"ictions

●

moral authority to act without unreasonable interference fromothers

● ustification? – =uties $'rofessional res'onsibilities% B rights to 'ursue them – 0thical theories

●

#uty ethics● rule utilitarianism● rights ethics● religious ethics

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2. ight of conscientious refusal● efuse to engage in unethical 'rofessional con#uct.● urn #own assignment on moral $not technical, etc.%

'rinci'les.● 7ssues?

● What is unethical? Cay be no share# agreement,● Are there alternate assignments for the engineer?

● Limited right of conscientious refusal.

3. ight to recognition● Conetary9 :air remuneration $salary, benefits%● -on/monetary● 7ssues?

● What is fair?

● rofessional societies may hel'.

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1D


1. ight of 'rofessional conscience● What is conscience?

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1. ight of 'rofessional conscience● What is conscience?

– “6onsciousness of right an# wrongE moral sense. ...heinternal ac&nowle#gement or recognition of the moral quality ofoneFs moti"es an# actionsE the sense of right an# wrong asregar#s things for which one is res'onsibleE the faculty or'rinci'le which 'ronounces u'on the moral quality of oneFsactions or moti"es, a''ro"ing the right an# con#emning thewrong.” OED

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The Engineer's E"ployee Rights

1.ri"acy● control of access to G use of information about oneself

2. 0qual o''ortunity9 non/#iscrimination● unustifie# treatment on arbitrary(irrele"ant $non/ob/relate#%

groun#s3. 0qual o''ortunity9 free#om from se>ual harassment

● i.e., from “... unwante# im'osition of se>ual requirements inthe conte>t of a relationshi' of unequal 'ower ...”

*. 0qual o''ortunity9 affirmati"e action● 'reference or a#"antage to grou' #enie# fair treatment in

the 'ast● wea& form9 e.g., hire minority o"er equally qualifie# other – strong form9 e.g., hire minority o"er more qualifie# other

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#histleblo$ing

● =isclosure, using other than a''ro"e# organi)ationalchannels, of wrong#oing to someone in a 'osition to ta&eaction.● #isclosure9 information intentionally con"eye#●

channels9 chain of comman#, organi)ational hierarchy, etc.● wrong#oing9 significant moral(ethical 'roblem for theorganization $e.g., 'ublic #anger, illegal acts, unethical'olicies('ractices, inustice, etc.%

● #iscloser9 em'loyee, 'erha's former em'loyee, 'erha's

someone closely associate# with the organi)ation● reci'ient9 someone who can #o something about it $e.g.,

go"ernment official, news me#ia, high/le"el official inorgani)ation, etc.%

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Types of #histleblo$ing

1. 0>ternal whistleblowing● information goes outsi#e organi)ation

2. 7nternal whistleblowing● information remains within organi)ation

3. !'en whistleblowing● #iscloser(agent i#entifies him(herself

*. Anonymous whistleblowing● #iscloser(agent remains anonymous

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%otives &or #histleblo$ing

● Why blow the whistle?● 7s whistleblowing always ustifie#?

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#histleblo$ing ther Ea"ples

1. ;ermit <an#i"ier $technical writer%9 4: Hoo#rich AI/=bra&e tests● :orce# against his will to falsify test re'orts for bra&e to

“meet” 5A: s'ecifications.● +ater resigne#, then re'orte#, e"entually to en. William

ro>mire.

2. ose'h 6arson9 =!0 ins'ector, !a& i#ge nuclearfacilities● !"er 13 years re'orte# cases of frau#, waste, abuse,

"iolations● emaine# with =!0, but reassigne#, suffere# illness, stress● =!0 ha# to 'ay legal J*DD,DDD legal e>'enses● 6arson cautions engineers on whistleblowing

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#histleblo$ing ther Ea"ples

3. William 6or9 +os Alamos “glo"ebo>es”● e'orte# concerns o"er lea&s, nee# for more testing● tress, illness, absence from wor&, termination

*. =a"i# Conts9 5ni"ersity of -ew !rleans fire alarms● 7nsiste# fire alarms nee#e#● :ire#

. effrey obins9 <ermont waste treatment 'lant● efuse# to sign certification, later force# to #o so● :ile# grie"ance with +abor elations 4oar#, lost, but &e't

ob

. An#rew iemas)&o9 =a"is 4esse nuclear 'lant● Allege# to !KA that he was 're"ente# from fully

in"estigating corrosion● :ire# for 'ressing for further in"estigations

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*ustified #histleblo$ing

1. Actual('otential harm is serious.

2. 6ase has been #ocumente#.

3. 6oncerns ha"e been re'orte# to imme#iate su'er"isors$u' the “chain of comman#”%.

*. -o satisfactory res'onse has been recei"e# u' the chain.. easonable ho'e that whistleblowing will hel'.

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#histleblo$ing ut+o"es

● 6onsequences to the whistleblower ● #isci'line#● subect to retaliation● ostraci)e#● fire#● blac&liste# from future em'loyment● etc.

● rotections for the whistleblower ● 'ublic recognition $e.g., in news me#ia%●

su''ort by 'rofessional organi)ations $e.g., 7000% – Ka"e been cite# in court #ecisions, but not always toengineersF benefit

● laws $e.g., 6i"il er"ice eform Act of 1LIM% – :e#eral, state laws an inconsistent 'atchwor&

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#histleblo$ing Ea"ples &ro" Tet

1. 0rnest :it)geral#9 5A: cost o"erruns2. =aniel A''legate9 =6/1D floor(hy#raulics $whistle

“swallowe#” by 6on"air(=ouglas Aircraft3. <irginia 0#gerton9 -N=('rosecutorFs software*. oger 4oisoly9 Challenger #isaster

● 6autionary re'orts $internal, before #isaster%● e'ort to ogers 6ommission $e>ternal, after #isaster%

. Kolger Korts"ang, obert 4ru#er, Ca> 4lan&en)ee9 4A● 7nternal memos $unsafe train control, 'oor testing% unhee#e#● Anonymous memo to management● 7nformation to 4AFs boar# of #irectors● 0ngagement of 'ri"ate consultant who corroborate#● elease of anonymous memos to 'ress by #irector ● 0ngineers “"in#icate#” but 'unishe#

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#histleblo$ing ,o""on Sense

1. Wor& through channels.

2. 0>'ress obections early.

3. 4e #iscreet, tactful, low/&ey. 6onsi#er othersF o'inions,feelings.

*. ;ee' su'er"isors informe#.. 4e informe#, accurate, an# #ocument your fin#ings an#

actions.

.6onsult trusted colleagues – an# others $#iscreetly%.

I. 6onsult 'rofessional society.M. 6onsult a lawyer.

L. ...

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#histleblo$ing dditional ,onsiderations

!li"er, =ouglas, Whistle/blowing engineer, J. Profl. Issues inEngrg. Educ. and Pract. 12L, 2* $2DD3% 2*/2.● 0ngineers may ha"e a whistleblowing #uty.● Cay face lawsuits if they fail.● -0, A60, AC0, 7000 co#es ha"e re'orting clauses.● Cay sometimes ha"e obligation.● :e#eral, state laws an inconsistent “'atchwor&”.● herefore, legal 'rotection "aries.● =ifficult to ma&e general statement about 'rotection one

can e>'ect.

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#histleblo$ing dditional ,onsiderations

$!li"er%● 7f ethical cultural climate lac&ing, consi#er em'loyment

elsewhere.● 7f whistleblowing becomes ethically necessary

● =ouble/chec& your moti"es.● =ocument the situation fully.● ee& out a secon# o'inion from com'etent G truste#

colleague.●

e'ort the matter to internal authorities first.● 6onsi#er fin#ing a 'osition with a new em'loyer 'rior to

blowing.● A"oi# whistle/blower lawsuits.

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