S

Sachin

Question 10Answer in 250 words) 20 MarksEthicsGS1

You are working as an Assistant Librarian in a State University for ten years. In the last ten years, you had witnessed the growth of the university in all academic and research areas. As the university expanded, it commissioned new departments and research labs, launched new courses and hired new staff. With new academic courses coming in, the library needed a new team, and it brought in Contractual staff. One such contractual library counter staff was Pallavi, who was with the library for four years. She was a diligent staff, meticulous in record-keeping and courteous in public dealings. But somehow the Librarian Mr Thakur had taken a personal dislike to her. He never lost an occasion to insult Pallavi even in the presence of students publicly. Pallavi never complained about this harassment as being a widowed single mother she needed the job, and she didn't want to give any reason to Mr Thakur to dismiss her. One day things went a little out of line with Mr Thakur verbally abusing Pallavi in front of the entire staff. You couldn't bear it, and you wanted to intervene, but you didn't. But the next day when you reached the library with your guilty and troubled conscience, you talk to Pallavi and decide to help her. 1. What are the issues involved in the above case? 2. What are the options Pallavi has? How should she navigate the issues with Mr Thakur? 3. What do you think is the problem with Mr Thakur, is it a lack of emotional intelligence or something else? 4. How do you think you will be able to help Pallavi?

Open scan (p.47)

Introduction

The above case is an illustration of challenges women face in their work place. It is one of the major reason for lower female labor force participation rate (<22%) in the country.

32 words

Main Body

The above case is an illustration of challenges women face in their work place. It is one of the major reason for lower female labor force participation rate (<22%) in the country.

1Issues involved in case
1Not safe working environment for women
2Suffering of women for cause unrelated to them
3Deprivation of healthy empowerment of women
4Lack of emotional intelligence & morality in librarian (Mr Thakur)
5Lack of fiduciary responsibility by me (Assistant librarian)
6Violation of fundamental duty of upholding women's dignity
7Lack of strong ethical work culture in the institute
2Options available with Pallavi:

Option 1: Bear the suffering in fear of losing the job contract

Option 2: Resign from the institution and have courage to find job somewhere else

Option 3: Face the challenge of harassment with right fortitude to set a positive precedence for future

Option 1:

Merits:

i) She would not lose the job in hand & hence could take care of child

ii) Passive suffering might bring transformation in librarian later

Demerits:

i) It would destroy her inner balance & affect her mental peace or health

ii) Moral responsibility to face the evil of patriarchy

Option 2

Merits:

i) It's important to maintain distance from Toxic work place

ii) Better alternative job might recognise her capability & skills

Demerits:

i) Sets wrong precedence

ii) The culprit goes unpunished

Option 3

Merit:

i) Dignity of women is both human right & constitutional imperative

ii) Give further courage to face the outside world & stand by herself

Demerits:

i) May risk losing the job

ii) Individual action might not bring change in institution

Pallavi should take following Course of action

1Arrange or ask for one on one person to person meeting with harassing librarian to understand reasons behind his behaviour & communicate him it's wrong
2Take the support of coworkers and approach the administration to take action against him
3If administration fails to help her out, approach the National Women commission, Human right organization or any such organization for legal recourse
3Problem with Mr. Thakur
1Emotional intelligence absent - The individual shows sign of lack of self restraint & control over his own emotions. He's also badly overridden by his emotions in negative way
2Negative attitude towards vulnerable women & harassing her for no obvious reasons
3Poor work culture or organisational ethics
4Lack of implementation of legal measures required for safe work environment

for women like Internal complaints committee, etc

4My help to Pallavi:
1Troubled conscience of not helping her in first place has revitalised my conviction to help her, by asking her apology
2Listen to Pallavi about her grievances both in front of public & at personal levels by the harassing librarian and any other such possible acts by other staff
3Try to reach out to other co-staff workers to join hands in persuading Mr Thakur to transform his negative mindset
4If he doesn't change his behaviour, take the matter to the administration to take punitive action against him
5As measure of last resort, approach the legal institutions alongside Pallavi to provide her with justice

Therefore, "each time a women stands up for herself, she stands up for all women"

547 words8 paragraphs

Conclusion

Therefore, "each time a women stands up for herself, she stands up for all women"

15 words

  • Contextualizes issue with statistic on female labor force participation

Topper

Sachin

Subject & Paper

EthicsGS1

Topic

Ethics Case Study

Workplace harassment of women

Issues involved in case

Writing Stats

594

Total words

8

Paragraphs

analytical

Tone