Guiding Unphilosophical Employees: Autonomy and Ethical Decision-Making at Work

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of unethical decision-making by employees in autonomous organizational contexts. By focusing on work design, it establishes a connection between neo-Aristotelianism and organizational theory. While this theory emphasizes the importance of autonomy in enhancing organizational efficiency and personal development, it also highlights that employees may engage in unethical decisions specifically due to their autonomy. In light of this, we argue that MacIntyre's virtue ethics provides a suitable philosophical framework for addressing this problem within a neo-Aristotelian context. Specifically, it offers WDT and practices a structured approach to help employees strengthen their moral judgment in routine decision-making without restricting their autonomy. This approach, however, helps to simplify the complexities of moral philosophy through the facilitation of ethically sound decision-making based on straightforward questionings as shown by MacIntyre with regard to the plain or unphilosophical person.