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Liability-Driven Ethics: The Impact on Hiring Practices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

Rosalind Ladd ,
Lynn Pasquerella  and
Sheri Smith
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Abstract:

This paper examines economic arguments employers sometimes use to justify restricting or excluding from employment those workers who are likely to incur high costs in health care insurance. We argue that, although profit-making is a legitimate goal for businesses, hiring practices based on non-job-related criteria violate principles of self determination, autonomy, discrimination, justice, and privacy. We conclude that hiring practices based on liability-driven ethics are not morally justified, but that as long as health care insurance and employment are linked, businesses will continue to have an incentive to use liability-driven arguments.

Type
Articles
Information
Business Ethics Quarterly , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , July 1994 , pp. 321 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 1994

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