Beatrix Szeremi immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary. But her American dream turned into a nightmare when she married Charles Wierdsma. He repeatedly beat her and threatened to suffocate and drown her. Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to one felony count and went to jail. Despite his son’s guilt, Thomas Wierdsma pressured his daughter-in-law to drop the charges and delete photos of her injuries from her Facebook page. When she refused, he threatened her and her lawyer that he would report her to immigration officials (although she was in the country legally with a green card). Father and son discussed how they could wrongfully get her deported. Thomas also testified in a deposition that it was not bad to lie to a federal agency. “It happens all the time,” he said. Thomas Wierdsma is the senior vice president at The GEO Group, Inc.
Research indicates that CEOs who break the law outside of the office are more likely to engage in workplace fraud. Although their legal infractions – driving under the influence, use of illegal drugs, domestic violence, even speeding tickets – were unrelated to their work, they seemed to indicate a disrespect for the rule of law and a lack of self-control.
Questions:
1. What would Kant and Mill say is the right thing to do in this case? What is the result under the Front Page test?
2. What ethics traps might Wierdsma’s boss face in this situation?
3. What is your Life Principle? What behavior are you willing to tolerate in the interest of profitability?
4. If you were the CEO? of Thomas Wierdsma’s company, would you fire him? Impose some other sanction?
5. Which is worse – Wierdsma’s threatening his daughter-in-law or stating that it is acceptable to lie to a federal agency?
6. Would you fire a warehouse worker who behaved this way?
7. GEOP runs prisons and immigration facilities for the government. Does that fact change any of your answers?
8. Wierdsma’s woes were reported in major newspapers, and his statement about lying to a federal agency was on YouTube. Do these facts change any of your answers?
