Business Ethics

By Brianna Bradley, Kevin Braxton, and Nigee Dennis

What is Business Ethics?

Business ethics (also known as corporate ethics ) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.

Ethical vs. Unethical

Examples of Ethical Qualities:
o Honesty, Integrity, Promise-Keeping, Loyalty, Fairness, Empathy, Respect, Law-Abiding, Commitment to Excellence, Leadership, Reputation and Morale, and Accountability

Examples of Unethical Qualities:

o Deliberate Deception, Violation of Conscience, Failure to Honor Commitments, Unlawful Conduct, and Disregard of Company Policy

How to prevent unethical behavior in the workplace?

Unethical behavior happens everyday in the workplace, but there are a few ways to prevent it from happening:
o Create a Code of Conduct: A written code of conduct provides employees and managers with an outline that list what behaviors are unacceptable, and what measures should be taken if violated. o Lead by Example: make ethics-based decisions and monitor the individuals you put into leadership roles at your company for the same values. o Reinforce Consequences: Start by informing new employees of the rules during their orientation sessions. If an employee acts unethically, refer to the code of conduct and take the necessary measures to warn or terminate. o Show Employees Appreciation: Show employees appreciation on a regular basis for work well done o Create a Checks & Balances: create a system of checks and balances to minimize the opportunities for unethical behavior. Always maintain a balance of power in the workplace o Hire for Values: Hire potential employees based on based on their morale value.

The situation
Your friend Marla is a high achieving, all round great person who is interviewing next week at the company where your friend Jeff is now a manager. In fact, she is up for a position right in Jeffs department. She is highly qualified and you have no doubt that she will be a great asset to the company. Without Marlas permission, Jeff asks if you would be willing to provide a reference for her since he knows that the two of you are friends. What Id most like, he says, is to hear whatever you know about how shes been doing as a manager at Company X for the last couple of years. Being Marlas best friend, you know that she no longer works at Company X and, during her few months there, that she was never a manager. How do you respond to Jeff and why? Do you say anything to Marla? If so, what? If not. Why?

The Response

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_ethics http://www.wafbla.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/EthicsEveryone-Else-Does-It.pdf http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-unethical-behaviorworkplace-10092.html http://josephsoninstitute.org/business/blog/2010/12/12ethical-principles-for-business-executives/ http://www.fblapbl.org/docs/ct/gdlrs/FBLA/business_ethics_13-14.pdf http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ways-prevent-unethicalbehavior-workplace-21344.html http://lessonplans.btskinner.com/ethics1.html http://johnralphgaray.blogspot.com/2011/02/ethicalscenarios.html