Real-Life Decision Making
As a self-employed plasterer, you are pleased to have been awarded a contract
to do the plastering on an old heritage barn that is being renovated. On the
appointed day, you gather up your two helpers and head out into the country
to the site.
When you mix your materials, you will be using lime. It's always a
bit dangerous when you use lime, because lime will cause third-degree burns
to the skin or eyes if it comes into contact with them. As a safety precaution,
you always keep a hose or an eyewash machine nearby. If the lime gets splashed
in someone's eyes, you want to be able to flush it out immediately.
When you made the arrangements to do the work, you noticed a water tap
just outside the barn. The owner assured you that it worked and that you could
use it. Now, taking the hose that you brought with you, you go over to the
tap and give the tap a twist to test it. No water comes out. Picking up your
cellphone, you call the owner and ask about the tap.
"I don't know what is wrong," says the owner. "And by the time I get
someone to fix it, you will be way behind schedule. I have other contractors
coming tomorrow and if the plastering isn't done, I'll have to reschedule
them and that will cost me a lot of money. Can you please work without the
water? If you cooperate with me now, I can promise you that there will be
a lot of work coming your way in the future."
It's a difficult choice. If you take your crew home, you will have
to pay them for their time, and the owner of the barn will be annoyed. You
know that the owner does a lot of construction work and his promise to give
you regular contracts in the future is very important. You need all the work
you can get.
On the other hand, if someone splashes the lime, it could have serious
effects without water to wash it away. Still, the truth is that you and your
crew are very careful and you rarely have an accident with the lime.
What do you do?