Grappling with the Gray

How much does the government need to know to do its job? That's the question that drives the conversation when Krista Crawford, Ph. D., MBA, SPHR , Sarah Kalmeta , and Jolanta Pomiotlo join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. And here is our topic: Paul Whelan, a 55-year-old retired U.S. Marine, was freed from Russia last summer after being imprisoned on false espionage charges for mor...

When the problem is always someone else's fault, is there any hope of finding a solution? That's the question that drives the conversation when Deb Coviello The Drop In CEO™ , Diane Helbig , and ☘️Mark O'Brien join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: A recent headline in Politico declared: “Republicans have hated universities for years. Anti-war protests ga...

Which is worse: conscious bias or unconscious bias? That's the question that drives the conversation when Paul Glover , 🟦 Melissa Hughes, Ph. D. , and Annette Taylor join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: On March 10th, Washington Post columnist and Associate Editor Ruth Marcus resigned after four decades with the paper. She accused Chief Executive and Publisher W...

How can we explain society simultaneously becoming insensitive and hypersensitive? That's the question that drives the conversation when Mark Brown, CSP , Kimberly Davis , and Kirsten Yurich join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic A recent article in National Review by Kayla Bartsch laments how the concept of RSVP has died an ignominious death among her fellow Gen Z-...

Is justice served if you talk your way out of court? That's the question that drives the conversation when Christopher Bauer, PhD, CSP, CFS , Jennifer H. Elder, CSP, CPA , and Jeff Koziatek join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: Jewish folklore tells of a poor man who finds a billfold with $700 in it. At his synagogue, he reads on the notice board that a wealthy co...

Are we engineering our way toward disaster? That's the question that drives the conversation when Catherine Fitzgerald , Stewart Wiggins , and K Kimi Hirotsu Ziemski join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: The tragic air crash of January 29 over Washington, DC, followed two days later by a second crash over Philadelphia, has left us all feeling both heartbroken and...

When we know what the problem is and we know how to fix it, why isn't it getting fixed? That's the question that drives the conversation when Sam Ardery , ☘️Mark O'Brien , and Kelly Paxton - Pink Collar Crime Expert join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: The horror of California wildfires has seized attention all across the country. Over 40,000 acres burn...

It’s been said that history is written by the winners. Today, however, history is more likely to be written by ideologues. This is the issue that drives the discussion when 🟦 Jeff Ikler , S. Scott Mason , and • Sue Tinnish, PhD join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: On one extreme, self-styled patriots seek to whitewash the human elements of heroic figures by censoring...

Is the long arm of the law too long or not long enough? That's the question that drives the conversation when the ethics panel convenes with Krista Crawford, Ph. D., MBA, SPHR , Diane Helbig , and Peter Winick to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: Last week, Australia made world headlines by passing legislation to ban social media use for children under 16 years old. Many support the i...

Have the critics of Cancel Culture turned on their own? That's the question that drives the conversation when Deb Coviello The Drop In CEO™ , 🟦 Melissa Hughes, Ph. D. , and Jolanta Pomiotlo join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: FOX NFL Sunday’s special in honor of Veteran’s Day unleashed a firestorm of controversy when New York Giants legend and Fox commentator M...

Is having the right words enough, or could it be part of the problem? That's the question that drives the conversation when Sarah Kalmeta , 🟦 Mark O'Brien , and Kirsten Yurich join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: For those of us will be grateful when elections are over regardless of who has won or lost, here are a few recent non-partisan headlines. From Inc...

When both sides are wrong, who's right? That's the question that drives the conversation when Amii Barnard-Bahn, JD, PCC, CCEP , Kimberly Davis , and Mary Beth Molloy join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: A recent article in Newsweek reported that 83 percent of Gen Z frontline workers are feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, with a third of those considering qu...

It seemed like a good idea at the time. But why? That's the question that drives the conversation when Catherine Fitzgerald, Steven Smith, and K Kimi Hirotsu Ziemski join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: One of the underlying principles of ethics is that trust forms the foundation of successful relationships and healthy communities. This simple idea explains why t...

Do two wrongs make a right? How about one-and-a-half wrongs? That's the question that drives the conversation when Mark Herschberg, Sven Lauch, and Stewart Wiggins join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: Late last year, a senior German policeman was convicted of threatening a suspect with torture to extract information about the whereabouts of an abducted boy. Wolfg...

What price do we pay for convenience? That's the question that drives the conversation when Christopher Bauer, PhD, CSP, CFS , Jennifer H. Elder, CSP, CPA , and Paul Glover join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: Is Amazon taking over the world? It certainly seems that way, especially after Jeff Bezos bought his half a billion dollar sailing yacht. I have no problem...

Is it still funny when the joke's on you? That's the question that drives the conversation when John E. McGlothlin , 🟦 Mark O'Brien , and Annette Taylor join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. And many thanks to my friend Melissa Hughes for suggesting the topic.  Here it is: In 2005, a British reality TV program chose four finalists from a group of 25 applicants to become t...

What happens when technical performance clashes with technical problems? That's the question that drives the conversation when Sam Ardery , JC Glick , and S. Scott Mason join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: Imagine that you’ve just completed your skating, diving, or gymnastic event to win Olympic Bronze. You are elated to have earned the right to stand on the pod...

Is it ever beneficial to intentionally send the wrong message? That's the question that drives the conversation when Richard Bistrong , Ron Carucci , and 💜Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP® join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is our topic: Earlier this summer, a CEO and tech entrepreneur named Rob Dance ignited a firestorm on Twitter with a post titled: "Things I'm sick...

How responsible am I for other people's irresponsible behavior? That's the question that drives the conversation when Jeff Koziatek , • Sam Silverstein, CSP, CPAE , and Kirsten Yurich join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is this week's ethics challenge: Your house is adjacent to the entrance of a primary school. Morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups are always a me...

When does character assessment become invasion of privacy? That's the question that drives the conversation when Deb Coviello The Drop In CEO™ , Diane Helbig , and Raj Tut join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray. Here is this episode's ethics challenge: A woman shows up at a company office to interview for an administrative position. Her resume is impressive, she is dressed profes...

Thank you for your support in reaching episode 100 of Grappling with the Gray! Celebrate with me as three of my stalwart recurring guests -- Kimberly Davis , 🟦 Melissa Hughes, Ph. D. , and Peter Winick -- join the panel for this milestone. Here is our topic: This past June, a bill signed into law made Louisiana the only state requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom in pu...

Can compliance demands undermine a healthy and ethical culture? That's the question driving the conversation when 🟦 Carolyn Lebanowski , Toni McLelland MSc FRSA , and Colin D Smith join the ethics panel for a special transatlantic episode of Grappling with the Gray. Here is our topic: A recent post on Reddit recounts how an employee found themselves reprimanded by their manager for taking 45...

When you do the wrong thing for the right reason, it is still the wrong thing? Is it possible to apply the principle of fairness so even-handedly that it leads to unfair outcomes? Since mercy is the suspension of justice, how do we avoid sacrificing a core value when we have to choose between them? These are the questions that drive the discussion when Nick Gallo, Annette Simmons, and Kimi Hirotsu...

If you get your work done in half the time, is the other half of your time really yours? That's the question that drives the discussion when Mark Brown, Deb Coviello, and Dr. Robyn Odegaard join the ethics panel for this archive episode of Grappling with the Gray. Here is our topic: In May, 2023, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced that she would resign from her position amidst c...

Should there be a presumption of privacy in public always, never, or sometimes? That's the question driving the discussion when Mark Brown, CSP , Mark O'Brien, and K Kimi Hirotsu Ziemski  join me to Grapple with the Gray! And here is our topic: In the wake of October 7, Columbia University has taken center stage amidst concerns about campus anti-Semitism. After a May 31 open forum addres...