Which of the following is considered unethical for an engineer to accept from a supplier?

In the context of engineering ethics, accepting any of the options listed—special discounts, gifts, or commissions—from a supplier can lead to conflicts of interest or perceptions of favoritism, which are considered unethical practices.

When an engineer accepts special discounts from a supplier, it might compromise their objectivity in decision-making. The engineer may feel obliged to favor the supplier in future contracts or project decisions, potentially neglecting the best interests of their employer or project stakeholders.

Receiving gifts can also create a similar ethical dilemma. Gifts can be seen as an attempt to influence the engineer’s decisions, which raises concerns about whether the engineer will remain impartial in their evaluations or choices related to procurement, thus undermining trust and integrity.

Commissions pose a significant ethical risk as they can explicitly incentivize an engineer to make decisions that benefit the supplier rather than the project or their employer. Accepting commissions can lead to situations where the engineer puts personal financial gain ahead of professional responsibility and ethical duties.

Overall, embracing any of these offers can impair an engineer’s professional judgment and integrity, making it unethical to accept them from suppliers. Therefore, the comprehensive response is that accepting all of the listed options is considered unethical under engineering ethical standards.