It is a peculiar story that is still playing itself out. As the case has not yet been adjudicated, we still don’t know who was right – or wrong, and how Toyota’s top female executive came to be arrested.
The scandal (if such a powerful word can or should be used here), offers a look at culture and ethics. However, it is impossible to review this case without wondering if a puppeteer’s strings have pulled the case in a strange abyss.
The Toyota Motor Corporation, like many of Japan’s major corporations, is heavily male-dominated. Julie Hamp, an American, was recently appointed as the newly appointed head of public relations. She was to be a model of diversity. Yes, I understand that being the head of public relations is not the same as head of engineering or production, but for a Japanese company it was a tremendous leap.
Julie Hamp has been arrested and less than two months after starting with Toyota, she has resigned in shame for bringing a negative focus on the company.
In an article for the Associated Press (July 1, 2015) by Yuri Kageyama entitled: “Toyota’s top female executive resigns after arrest in Japan,” we learn:
“Hamp, a 55-year-old American who was Toyota’s newly appointed head of public relations, was arrested on June 18 on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer, into Japan. The drug is tightly controlled in the country…Hamp, who previously worked for Toyota’s U.S. operations, remains in custody and has not been available for comment. Police have said she denied she tried to bring in an illegal drug.”
She has not been formally charged as yet. The police apparently raided Toyota’s offices in a search for more drugs.
Interestingly, Toyota’s president said the company “should have helped Hamp more in settling into her job in Japan. He also has said he believes Hamp did not intend to break the law.
Her arrest came as she was moving her things from the U.S., and police came to her Tokyo hotel after finding the drug in a package that was mailed to her. Japanese media said the drugs were hidden in a package containing jewelry.”
A strange stew of ethics
There is a multi-layered blend of cultural and ethical issues transpiring here. There are no right answers at this time, only numerous questions.
The first question is if Julie Hamp, a seasoned and professional public relations person was in some way, set up?
I realize that oxycodone is a drug that is used as a narcotic pain killer, but seriously, how many pills did she bring in the country? Was it a vial containing five pills or five vials with 100 pills each? I hardly doubt that Ms. Hamp was a drug dealer, and I presume she was not an addict. So why this arrest of such a rather public figure for a highly visible company?
The president of Toyota felt that perhaps they should have helped Ms. Hamp settle into her job more effectively than they did. So why, I wonder, didn’t they do so? Were there people in the corporate hierarchy offended and embarrassed that an American woman should get a job of this stature at headquarters? Were there experienced executives who were put off by this management strategy? What then, might it say about the company’s true commitment to diversity?
On the other hand, it was stated in the article: “Japanese media said the drugs were hidden in a package containing jewelry.” Was this, in fact, true? If so, could Ms. Hamp have been aware of the stringent laws and decided to chance it?
Hiding medications to circumvent customs is a dangerous path for any foreigner to take entering a country. To be honest, I have checked several websites in regard to bringing medications into Japan; it is quite clear that medications such as oxycodone are not permitted. In Ms. Hamp’s position she must be extremely internet savvy. Clearly she could have learned the same facts I just learned about narcotic pain killers.
The Japanese medical system is excellent. I am sure Toyota could have suggested any number of physicians to help Ms. Hamp. If she has a painful medical condition, could she not have been treated with another medication? Again, I am only asking questions to try to arrive at some ethical conclusions; we have no definitive answers at this time.
More than a simple case of miscommunication may be at hand.
Was the company at fault for not helping Ms. Hamp? Did they intentionally let her fail? On the other hand, did she try to get away with something and therefore fail her company? Either path was unethical. For now, she sits behind bars awaiting the flight home.
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