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lunchperiod.Thisparticularemployeeisapproximatelysixtyyearsoldandshehas indicatedthatsheintendstocontinueworkinguntilshecanretire,whichisjustaroundthe cornersincesheisalongtimeemployeeofthecompany.Thisfoodserviceemployeeheaded intoaplatformdirectlyintheviewofcustomersandshepulleddessertstowardsherin ordertograbsomeforherselfpriortowhensheofficiallywentonbreakandwhile customerswerewaiting.Shegrabbedonedessert,brokeitapartinfrontofthose customers,andthen,withherunglovedhands;shealsograbbedathicksliceofricecrispy treatoffofaspeedrack.Theemployeethenactedasifshewasgoingtoputthericecrispy treatbackamongsttheothertreatsfromwhichthefoodserviceworkerwouldthenserve. Myimmediatereactionwasshockgivenherseniorityonthejobbuthermanyyearsof experiencemayhavebeenwhatledtohercasualandinappropriateactionsinfrontofour customers.Asadietaryprofession,Ifeltthattherewereanumberofethicalimplications thatneededimmediateactionincludingprivatecounselingoftheemployeeonherlapsesin goodjudgment.AsadietaryprofessionalIwouldthinkthatprivatecounselingwould appropriatesoasnottocriticizeasenioremployeeinfrontofherpeers.Astotheother ethicalissues,themainvaluesdisregardedbytheemployeeinthiscasewerecustomer focusandsocialresponsibility.AccordingtotheAmericanDieteticsAssociationsCodeof Ethics(2009),thevalueofcustomerfocusisdescribedas[meeting]theneedsand [exceeding]theexpectationsofinternalandexternalcustomersandthevalueofsocial responsibilityis[making]decisionswithconsiderationforinclusivityaswellas environmental,economic,andsocialimplications(pp.1462).Whenanemployeebehaves inamannerthatdevaluestheproductandcausestheclientstoloserespectforthewayin
CodeofEthicsfortheProfessionofDieteticsandProcessofConsiderationofEthicsIssues includestheconsiderationsofthepublic,clients,andtheprofession.Thefirsttwo principles,whicharebaseduponintegrityandobligationtoprotecttheclients,public,and theprofession,arecrucialtoafoodservicesettinganditsfoundation(1461).The principlespertainingtothepublicandtheirhealth,safety,andwelfareatalltimes,are crucialtokeepingthepublicsafe.Theprinciplespertainingtotheresponsibilitiestothe profession,13and15,interpretinginformationwithoutpersonalbias,recognizingthat legitimatedifferencesofopinionexist,aswellasbeingalerttotheoccurrenceofarealor potentialconflictofinterestandtakesappropriateactionwheneveraconflictarises (14611462)arecriticaltomaintainingrespectandintegritywhendealingwithcolleagues. AsadieteticprofessionalIwoulddealwiththeaforementionedscenariodelicately
obtainfoodfrombehindtheservicelinecompromisedtheentiretrayofdessertsthereby exposingthemtopotentialcontaminationand,inturn,exposingourclientstotheveryreal possibilityofbecomingsickorworsefromourbehavior.Iwouldfurtherexplaintoher that,asfoodserviceprofessionals,itisourobligationandresponsibilitytoprovideour clientswithsafefoodthatwillnourishtheirbodiesandnotnegativelyaffectthem. Secondarytothiscriticalissueofsafetyisourownpersonalintegrityandtheimagethat we,asabusiness,wanttoportraytoourcustomers.Bygrabbingfoodfrombehindthe servicelinewhilecustomersareobservingandthenbreakingapartthefoodis disrespectfulanddisturbingtoourcustomers.Inafoodservicesetting,itisourgoaltohave asafeandcleanenvironmentandshowrespectforourcustomersandthefoodweserve. Oneofmykeyobjectivesinhavingaprivatediscussionwiththissenioremployeewouldbe toimpressuponthemhowotheremployeeslookuptoherasarolemodelandthatitis imperativethatshepresentthebestpossiblebehaviorwhenhandlingfoodinfullviewof ourcustomers. Secondarytotheissueregardingtheimproperhandlingoffoodistheissueof
foodservicesetting,anditisuptothedieteticprofessionalstokeeptheenvironmentsafe andethicalinregardstothehandlingoffoodandrespectoftheclient,amongstother things.Thesafetyofclientsisparamountandmisbehaviorcannotbetoleratedwhenit conflictswiththeprimarysafetygoal.Maintaininganethicallyempoweredfoodservice settingisveryimportantand,thoughitsnoteasytoenforceethicalbehavior,businesses thathavehighethicalstandardsfindthattheircustomersnoticeandappreciatethe attitudeofthebusinessasrepresentedbytheiremployees. . References: CodeofEthicsfortheProfessionofDieteticsandProcessforConsiderationofEthicsIssues. (2009).[Code].JournaloftheAcademyofNutritionandDietetics,109(8),14611467.