0% found this document useful (0 votes)
50 views

Business Ethics Defined As The Ethical Values, Morals, Norms, Principle and Corporate Standards in The Business Activities and Operation Holders.

Business ethics provides a framework for ethical business conduct. It establishes principles and guidelines for proper behavior in business. The goals of business ethics include stopping harmful business practices, improving customer confidence, and protecting stakeholders like employees, consumers, and shareholders. Business ethics also aims to develop good relations between businesses and society. Following ethical standards helps businesses survive in the long run by maintaining a good reputation.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
50 views

Business Ethics Defined As The Ethical Values, Morals, Norms, Principle and Corporate Standards in The Business Activities and Operation Holders.

Business ethics provides a framework for ethical business conduct. It establishes principles and guidelines for proper behavior in business. The goals of business ethics include stopping harmful business practices, improving customer confidence, and protecting stakeholders like employees, consumers, and shareholders. Business ethics also aims to develop good relations between businesses and society. Following ethical standards helps businesses survive in the long run by maintaining a good reputation.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 23

INTRODUCTION

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 can arise
in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the
conduct of individuals and entire organizations. These ethics originate from individuals,
organizational statements or from the legal system. These norms, values, ethical, and unethical
practices are the principles that guide a business. They help those businesses maintain a better
connection with their stakeholders.

“Business ethics defined as the ethical values, morals, norms, principle and corporate
standards in the business activities and operation holders.”

Business ethics refers to contemporary organizational standards, principles, sets of values


and norms that govern the actions and behavior of an individual in the business organization.
Business ethics have two dimensions, normative business ethics or descriptive business ethics.
As a corporate practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. Academics
attempting to understand business behavior employ descriptive methods. The range and quantity
of business ethical issues reflects the interaction of profit-maximizing behavior with non-
economic concerns.

Adam Smith said, "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment
and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some
contrivance to raise prices." Governments use laws and regulations to point business behavior in
what they perceive to be beneficial directions. Ethics implicitly regulates areas and details of
behavior that lie beyond governmental control. The emergence of large corporations with limited
relationships and sensitivity to the communities in which they operate accelerated the
development of formal ethics regimes. Maintaining an ethical status is the responsibility of the
manager of the business. According to the Journal of Business Ethics "Managing ethical
behavior is one of the most pervasive and complex problems facing business organizations
today.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 1


HISTORY

Business ethics reflect the norms of each historical period. As time passes, norms evolve,
causing accepted behaviors to become objectionable. Business ethics and the resulting behavior
evolved as well.Business was involved in slavery, colonialism,and the cold war.

The term 'business ethics' came into common use in the United States in the early 1970s.
By the mid-1980s at least 500 courses in business ethics reached 40,000 students, using some
twenty textbooks and at least ten casebooks supported by professional societies, centers and
journals of business ethics. The Society for Business Ethics was founded in 1980. European
business schools adopted business ethics after 1987 commencing with the European Business
Ethics Network.In 1982 the first single-authored books in the field appeared.

Firms began highlighting their ethical stature in the late 1980s and early 1990s, possibly
in an attempt to distance themselves from the business scandals of the day, such as the savings
and loan crisis. The concept of business ethics caught the attention of academics, media and
business firms by the end of the Cold War. However, criticism of business practices was attacked
for infringing the freedom of entrepreneurs and critics were accused of supporting
communists.[This scuttled the discourse of business ethics both in media and academia. The
Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct(DII) was created to support
corporate ethical conduct. This era began the belief and support of self-regulation and free trade,
which lifted tariffs and barriers and allowed businesses to merge and divest in an increasing
global atmosphere.

 Religious and philosophical origins

One of the earliest written treatments of business ethics is found in the Tirukkuṛaḷ, a
Tamil book dated variously from 300 BCE to 7th century CE and attributed to Thiruvalluvar.
Many verses discuss business ethics, in particular, verse 113, adapting to a changing
environment in verses 474, 426, and 140, learning the intricacies of different tasks in verses 462
and 677."

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 2


FEATURES OF BUSINESS ETHICS

1. Code of conduct :
Business ethics is a code of conduct. It tells what to do and what not to do for the
welfare of the society. All businessmen must follow this code of conduct.It is necessary
that business organisation conducts it activities with self control, self check and in the
best interest society.

2. Based on moral and social values :


Business ethics is based on moral and social values. It contains moral and social
principles (rules) for doing business. This includes self-control, consumer protection and
welfare, service to society, fair treatment to social groups, not to exploit others, etc.

3. Gives protection to social groups :


Business ethics give protection to different social groups such as consumers,
employees, small businessmen, government, shareholders, creditors, etc.

4. Provides basic framework :


Business ethics provide a basic framework for doing business. It gives the social
cultural, economic, legal and other limits of business. Business must be conducted within
these limits.

5. Voluntary concept :
Business ethics must be voluntary. The businessmen must accept business ethics
on their own. Business ethics must be like self-discipline. It must not be enforced by law.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 3


6. Requires education and guidance :
Businessmen must be given proper education and guidance before introducing
business ethics. The businessmen must be motivated to use business ethics. They must be
informed about the advantages of using business ethics. Trade Associations and
Chambers of Commerce must also play an active role in this matter.

7. Relative Term :
Business ethics is a relative term. That is, it changes from one business to another.
It also changes from one country to another. What is considered as good in one country
may be taboo in another country.

8. New concept :
Business ethics is a newer concept. It is strictly followed only in developed
countries. It is not followed properly in poor and developing countries.

9. Universal in nature:
Business ethics is universal in nature. It has a universal application. It is
applicable to all business organization, its activities and operation. However, the degree
of application may vary from business to business.

10. Not against profit making:


Business ethics is not again fair profit making. However, it is against profit by
cheating and exploiting consumers, employees, society etc.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 4


OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS ETHICS

1. Stop business malpractices :


Some unscrupulous businessmen do business malpractices by indulging in unfair
trade practices like black-marketing, artificial high pricing, adulteration, cheating in
weights and measures, selling of duplicate and harmful products, hoarding, etc. These
business malpractices are harmful to the consumers. Business ethics help to stop these
business malpractices.

2. Improve customers' confidence :


Business ethics are needed to improve the customers' confidence about the
quality, quantity, price, etc. of the products. The customers have more trust and
confidence in the businessmen who follow ethical rules. They feel that such businessmen
will not cheat them.

3. Survival of business :
Business ethics are mandatory for the survival of business. The businessmen who
do not follow it will have short-term success, but they will fail in the long run. This is
because they can cheat a consumer only once. After that, the consumer will not buy
goods from that businessman. He will also tell others not to buy from that businessman.
So this will defame his image and provoke a negative publicity. This will result in failure
of the business. Therefore, if the businessmen do not follow ethical rules, he will fail in
the market. So, it is always better to follow appropriate code of conduct to survive in the
market.

4. Safeguarding consumers' rights :


The consumer has many rights such as right to health and safety, right to be
informed, right to choose, right to be heard, right to redress, etc. But many businessmen
do not respect and protect these rights. Business ethics are must to safeguard these rights
of the consumers.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 5


5. Protecting employees and shareholders :
Business ethics are required to protect the interest of employees, shareholders,
competitors, dealers, suppliers, etc. It protects them from exploitation through unfair
trade practices.

6. Develops good relations :


Business ethics are important to develop good and friendly relations between
business and society. This will result in a regular supply of good quality goods and
services at low prices to the society. It will also result in profits for the businesses thereby
resulting in growth of economy.

7. Creates good image :


Business ethics create a good image for the business and businessmen. If the
businessmen follow all ethical rules, then they will be fully accepted and not criticised by
the society. The society will always support those businessmen who follow this necessary
code of conduct.

8. Smooth functioning :
If the business follows all the business ethics, then the employees, shareholders,
consumers, dealers and suppliers will all be happy. So they will give full cooperation to
the business. This will result in smooth functioning of the business. So, the business will
grow, expand and diversify easily and quickly. It will have more sales and more profits.

9. Consumer movement :
Business ethics are gaining importance because of the growth of the consumer
movement. Today, the consumers are aware of their rights. Now they are more organised
and hence cannot be cheated easily. They take actions against those businessmen who
indulge in bad business practices. They boycott poor quality, harmful, high-priced and
counterfeit (duplicate) goods. Therefore, the only way to survive in business is to be
honest and fair.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 6


10. Consumer satisfaction :
Today, the consumer is the king of the market. Any business simply cannot
survive without the consumers. Therefore, the main aim or objective of business is
consumer satisfaction. If the consumer is not satisfied, then there will be no sales and
thus no profits too. Consumer will be satisfied only if the business follows all the
business ethics, and hence are highly needed.

11. Importance of labour :


Labour, i.e. employees or workers play a very crucial role in the success of a
business. Therefore, business must use business ethics while dealing with the employees.
The business must give them proper wages and salaries and provide them with better
working conditions. There must be good relations between employer and employees. The
employees must also be given proper welfare facilities.

12. Healthy competition :


The business must use business ethics while dealing with the competitors. They
must have healthy competition with the competitors. They must not do cut-throat
competition. Similarly, they must give equal opportunities to small-scale business. They
must avoid monopoly. This is because a monopoly is harmful to the consumers.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 7


SCOPE IN BUSINESS ETHICS

Ethical problems and phenomena arise across all the functional areas of companies and at
all levels within the company.

1.Ethics in Compliance:

Compliance is about obeying and adhering to rules and authority. The motivation for
being compliant could be to do the right thing out of the fear of being caught rather than a desire
to be abiding by the law. An ethical climate in an organization ensures that compliance with law
is fuelled by a desire to abide by the laws. Organizations that value high ethics comply with the
laws not only in letter but go beyond what is stipulated or expected of them.

2.Ethics in Finance:

The ethical issues in finance that companies and employees are confronted with include:

 In accounting – window dressing, misleading financial analysis.


 Related party transactions not at arm’s length
 Insider trading, securities fraud leading to manipulation of the financial markets.
 Executive compensation.
 Bribery, kickbacks, over billing of expenses, facilitation payments.
 Fake reimbursements

3.Ethics in Human Resources:

Human resource management (HRM) plays a decisive role in introducing and


implementing ethics. Ethics should be a pivotal issue for HR specialists. The ethics of human
resource management (HRM) covers those ethical issues arising around the employer-employee
relationship, such as the rights and duties owed between employer and employee.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 8


The issues of ethics faced by HRM include:

 Discrimination issues i.e. discrimination on the bases of age, gender, race, religion,
disabilities, weight etc.
 Sexual harassment.
 Affirmative Action.
 Issues surrounding the representation of employees and the democratization of the
workplace, trade ization.
 Issues affecting the privacy of the employee: workplace surveillance, drug testing.
 Issues affecting the privacy of the employer: whistle-blowing.
 Issues relating to the fairness of the employment contract and the balance of power
between employer and employee.
 Occupational safety and health.

Companies tend to shift economic risks onto the shoulders of their employees. The boom
of performance-related pay systems and flexible employment contracts are indicators of these
newly established forms of shifting risk.

4.Ethics in Marketing:

Marketing ethics is the area of applied ethics which deals with the moral principles
behind the operation and regulation of marketing.

The ethical issues confronted in marketing area include:

 Pricing: price fixing, price discrimination, price skimming.


 Anti-competitive practices like manipulation of supply, exclusive dealing arrangements,
tying arrangements etc.
 Misleading advertisements
 Content of advertisements.
 Children and marketing.
 Black markets, grey markets.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 9


5.Ethics of Production:

This area of business ethics deals with the duties of a company to ensure that products
and production processes do not cause harm. Some of the more acute dilemmas in this area arise
out of the fact that there is usually a degree of danger in any product or production process and it
is difficult to define a degree of permissibility, or the degree of permissibility may depend on the
changing state of preventative technologies or changing social perceptions of acceptable risk.

 Defective, addictive and inherently dangerous products and


 Ethical relations between the company and the environment include pollution,
environmental ethics, and carbon emissions trading.
 Ethical problems arising out of new technologies for eg. Genetically modified food
 Product testing ethics.
 The most systematic approach to fostering ethical behaviour is to build corporate cultures
that link ethical standards and business practices.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 10


PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS ETHICS

1. Be Trustworthy:
Recognize customer want to do business with a company they can trust, when
trust is at the core of a company, it’s easy to recognize. Trust defined is assured reliance
on the character, ability, strength and truth of a business.

2. Keep an open mind:


For continuous improvement of a company, the leader of an organization must be
open to new ideas. Ask for opinions and feedback from both customers and team
members and your company will continue to grow.

3. Meet obligations:
Regardless of the circumstances do everything in your power to gain the trust of
past customers and clients, particularly if something has gone away. Reclaim any lost
business by honouring all commitments and obligation.

4. Have clear documents:


Re-evaluate all prints materials including small business advertising, brochures
and other business documents making sure they are clear, precise and professional. Most
important, make sure they do not misrepresent.

5. Become community involved:


Remain involved in community related issues and activities, thereby
demonstrating that your business is a responsible community contributor. In other words,
stay involved.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 11


6. Maintain accounting control:
Take a hands-on approach to accounting and record keeping, not only as a means
of gaining a better feel for the progress of company but as a resource for any
“questionable” activities. Gaining control of accounting and record keeping allows to end
any dubious activities promptly.

7. Be respectful:
Treat others with the utmost of respect. Regardless of differences, positions, titles,
ages or other types of distinctions always treat others with professional respect and
courtesy.

This are 7 principles to be success by using business ethics.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 12


ADVANTAGES OF BUSINESS ETHICS

1. Attracting and retaining talent:

People aspire to join organizations that have high ethical values. Companies are able to
attract the best talent and an ethical company that is dedicated to taking care of its employees
will be rewarded with employees being equally dedicated in taking care of the organization. The
ethical climate matter to the employees. Ethical

Organizations create an environment that is trustworthy, making employees willing to


rely, take decisions and act on the decisions and actions of the co-employees. In such a work
environment, employees can expect to be treated with respect and consideration for their
colleagues and superiors. It cultivates strong teamwork and Productivity and support employee
growth.

2. Investor Loyalty:

Investors are concerned about ethics, social responsibility and reputation of the company
in which they invest. Investors are becoming more and more aware that an ethical climate
provides a foundation for efficiency, productivity and profits. Relationship with any stakeholder,
including investors, based on dependability, trust and commitment results in sustained loyalty.

3. Customer satisfaction:

Customer satisfaction is a vital factor in successful business strategy. Repeat purchases/orders


and enduring relationship of mutual respect is essential for the success of the company. The
name of a company should evoke trust and respect among customers for enduring success. This
is achieved by a company that adopts ethical practices. When a company because of its belief in
high ethics is perceived as such, any crisis or mishaps along the way is tolerated by the
customers as a minor aberration. Such companies are also guided by their ethics to survive a

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 13


critical situation. Preferred values are identified ensuring that organizational behaviours are
aligned with those values. An organization with a strong ethical environment places its
customers’ interests as foremost. Ethical conduct towards customers builds a strong competitive
position. It promotes a strong public image.

4. Regulators:

Regulators eye companies functioning ethically as responsible citizens. The regulator need not
always monitor the functioning of the ethically sound company. The company earns profits and
reputational gains if it acts within the confines of business ethics. To summaries, companies that
are responsive to employees’ needs have lower turnover in staff.

 Shareholders invest their money into a company and expect a certain level of return from
that money in the form of dividends and/or capital growth.
 Customers pay for goods, give their loyalty and enhance a company’s reputation in return
for goods or services that meet their needs.
 Employees provide their time, skills and energy in return for salary, bonus, career
progression, and learning.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 14


3C’S OF BUSINESS ETHICS

1. Compliance:

In business ethics contexts, compliance generally refers to a company’s or a business person’s


conformity with relevant laws and regulations—that is, following the rules set out by
government. In its slightly broader sense, a focus on compliance may also imply a focus on
adherence by employees on the organization’s own internal rules.

Many large businesses today have entire compliance departments, typically consisting of a
special team of lawyers (and others) whose job it is to make sure that the company remains in
conformity with the laws and regulations applying to its activities. Given the very wide range of
laws and regulations to which modern businesses are subject, this can be a very substantial task.
Big companies regularly engage in compliance training, which both expose employees to the
relevant laws and regulations to which the company is subject and the practices and procedures
for conforming to them in the performance of their duties.

2. Consequences:

Most mangers worry about the consequences of their actions. In fact, one set of ethical
theoris uses the yardstick of whether good or bad consequenses will result I deciding whether the
decisions are ethical or unethical. for instance, a decision to move a manufacturing plant to a
lower-cost-of-labour country will likely mean good consequenses for the company in terms of
lower cost of production. But not all the consequences arising from such a decision will be
positive.

3. Contribution:

Most managers of companies do not look at their position or corporation as just being in
thwe business of making money. They often speak in much more enlightened terms, such as
improving convenience for consumers or offering more productive economy and a happier
society. Whether this vision is always fulfilled is debatable, bust businessman and women often
see themselves as contributing to society and not just in narrow microeconomic sense.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 15


MYTHS ABOUT BUSINESS ETHICS

Business ethics in the workplace is about prioritizing moral values for the workplace and
ensuring behaviors are aligned with those values — it’s values management. Yet, myths abound
about business ethics. Some of these myths arise from general confusion about the notion of
ethics. Other myths arise from narrow or simplistic views of ethical dilemmas.

1. Myth: Business ethics is more a matter of religion than management.

Diane Kirrane, in “Managing Values: A Systematic Approach to Business


Ethics,”(Training and Development Journal, November 1990), asserts that “altering people’s
values or souls isn’t the aim of an organizational ethics program — managing values and conflict
among them is …”

2. Myth: Our employees are ethical so we don’t need attention to business ethics.

Most of the ethical dilemmas faced by managers in the workplace are highly complex.
Wallace explains that one knows when they have a significant ethical conflict when there is
presence of a) significant value conflicts among differing interests, b) real alternatives that are
equality justifiable, and c) significant consequences on “stakeholders” in the situation. Kirrane
mentions that when the topic of business ethics comes up, people are quick to speak of the
Golden Rule, honesty and courtesy. But when presented with complex ethical dilemmas, most
people realize there’s a wide “gray area” when trying to apply ethical principles.

3. Myth: Business ethics is a discipline best led by philosophers, academics and theologians.

Lack of involvement of leaders and managers in business ethics literature and discussions
has led many to believe that business ethics is a fad or movement, having little to do with the

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 16


day-to-day realities of running an organization. They believe business ethics is primarily a
complex philosophical debate or a religion. However, business ethics is a management discipline
with a programmatic approach that includes several practical tools. Ethics management programs
have practical applications in other areas of management areas, as well. (These applications are
listed later on in this document.)

4. Myth: Business ethics is superfluous — it only asserts the obvious: “do good!”

Many people react that codes of ethics, or lists of ethical values to which the organization
aspires, are rather superfluous because they represent values to which everyone should naturally
aspire. However, the value of a codes of ethics to an organization is its priority and focus
regarding certain ethical values in that workplace. For example, it’s obvious that all people
should be honest. However, if an organization is struggling around continuing occasions of
deceit in the workplace, a priority on honesty is very timely — and honesty should be listed in
that organization’s code of ethics. Note that a code of ethics is an organic instrument that
changes with the needs of society and the organization.

5. Myth: Business ethics is a matter of the good guys preaching to the bad guys.

Some writers do seem to claim a moral high ground while lamenting the poor condition
of business and its leaders. However, those people well versed in managing organizations realize
that good people can take bad actions, particularly when stressed or confused. (Stress and
confusion are not excuses for unethical actions — they are reasons.) Managing ethics in the
workplace includes all of us working together to help each other remain ethical and to work
through confusing and stressful ethical dilemmas.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 17


6. Myth: Business ethics in the new policeperson on the block.

Many believe business ethics is a recent phenomenon because of increased attention to


the topic in popular and management literature. However, business ethics was written about even
2,000 years ago — at least since Cicero wrote about the topic in his On Duties. Business ethics
has gotten more attention recently because of the social responsibility movement that started in
the 1960s.

7. Myth: Ethics can’t be managed.

Actually, ethics is always “managed” — but, too often, indirectly. For example, the
behavior of the organization’s founder or current leader is a strong moral influence, or directive
if you will, on behavior or employees in the workplace. Strategic priorities (profit maximization,
expanding marketshare, cutting costs, etc.) can be very strong influences on morality. Laws,
regulations and rules directly influence behaviors to be more ethical, usually in a manner that
improves the general good and/or minimizes harm to the community. Some are still skeptical
about business ethics, believing you can’t manage values in an organization. Donaldson and
Davis (Management Decision, V28, N6) note that management, after all, is a value system.
Skeptics might consider the tremendous influence of several “codes of ethics,” such as the “10
Commandments” in Christian religions or the U.S. Constitution. Codes can be very powerful in
smaller “organizations” as well.

8. Myth: Business ethics and social responsibility are the same thing.

The social responsibility movement is one aspect of the overall discipline of business
ethics. Madsen and Shafritz refine the definition of business ethics to be: 1) an application of
ethics to the corporate community, 2) a way to determine responsibility in business dealings, 3)
the identification of important business and social issues, and 4) a critique of business. Items 3
and 4 are often matters of social responsibility. (There has been a great deal of public discussion
and writing about items 3 and 4. However, there needs to be more written about items 1 and 2,
about how business ethics can be managed.) Writings about social responsibility often do not

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 18


address practical matters of managing ethics in the workplace, e.g., developing codes, updating
polices and procedures, approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas, etc.

9. Myth: Our organization is not in trouble with the law, so we’re ethical.

One can often be unethical, yet operate within the limits of the law, e.g., withhold
information from superiors, fudge on budgets, constantly complain about others, etc. However,
breaking the law often starts with unethical behavior that has gone unnoticed. The “boil the frog”
phenomena is a useful parable here: If you put a frog in hot water, it immediately jumps out. If
you put a frog in cool water and slowly heat up the water, you can eventually boil the frog. The
frog doesn’t seem to notice the adverse change in its environment.

10. Myth: Managing ethics in the workplace has little practical relevance.

Managing ethics in the workplace involves identifying and prioritizing values to guide
behaviors in the organization, and establishing associated policies and procedures to ensure those
behaviors are conducted. One might call this “values management.” Values management is also
highly important in other management practices, e.g., managing diversity, Total Quality
Management and strategic planning.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 19


ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS ETHICS

Governments at every level and in all regions of the world are beginning to recognize the
importance of addressing the challenge of sustainability. Increasingly the language of
sustainability is emerging in public policy discussions. Coming to grips with the challenges and
opportunities of sustainability is an imperative that goes beyond domestic agendas. No country
can be an island of sustainability in a sea of unsustainability. Equally, no single government, or
any other organization, can easily create economic, environmental and social value through
policy changes or innovative practices if global drivers and reward systems are working in the
opposite direction. The global context must be factored in to the domestic policy agenda.

It has become increasingly evident that governments acting alone cannot achieve the far-
reaching social and economic changes that sustainability will require. Though sustainable
development began (in the report of the Brundtland Commission and the organization of the first
Earth Summit in 1992) as a project for governments, the need to engage all sectors of society is
now self-evident.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1999, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
invited world business leaders to embrace and enact the Global Compact involving nine
principles covering topics on human rights, labour, and the environment. Some business
leaders have even argued that as the largest institution on Earth only business and industry can
lead [toward sustainability] quickly and effectively.

From this perspective, business must take the lead both domestically and internationally.
In relation to sustainability issues in developing countries.

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 20


COMPANIES HAVING BEST BUSINESS ETHICAL POLICIES
WORLDWIDE

It’s not often that companies are celebrated for good behavior. Here are corporations with
policies we can support:

1. Google:

Although some may criticize the company, Google(NASDAQ:GOOG) regularly makes


good on its motto: “Don’t be evil.” Through its Google Green Program, the company has
donated over $1 billion to renewable energy projects, and has decreased its own footprint by
using energy efficient buildings and public transportation. The company is also a staunch
advocate of free speech, which can be observed from its frequent conflicts with the Chinese
government. Google is also an open supporter of gay rights. Yet all this pales in comparison to
Google’s status as a paragon for employee benefits. Just to name a few, Google employees have
access to free health care and treatment from on-site doctors, free legal advice with discounted
legal services, a fully stock snack pantry and onsite cafeteria (staffed by world-class chefs, no
less), and a free on-site nursery. With such a stellar record of social awareness and positive
employee relations, Google is easily the best example of ethics in the corporate world today

2. Microsoft:

Given the fact that it was started by Bill Gates, one of America’s most generous
philanthropists, it follows that Microsoft(NASDAQ:MSFT) would do well in following his
example. The tech company and its employees donate over $1 billion yearlyto charities and non-
profit organizations. If that wasn’t enough, Microsoft’s management and employee’s have also
decided to tackle America’s IT professionals shortage through its TEALS program. Through the
TEALS program, Microsoft employees are encouraged to volunteer at local schools to instruct
students in computer science, in the hopes that it will inspire them to enter the technology
industry. It’s only natural that Microsoft employees would be generous people; in addition to

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 21


being among the highest paid employees in America, they also enjoy a plethora of perks,
including 100% coverage on their health care premiums.

3. Intel:

Since 1988, the computer chip manufacturer Intel(NASDAQ:INTC) has been trying to bolster its
reputation through its efforts to strengthen technological education. Through the Intel
Foundation, the company hosts the Intel Science Talent Search and the international Science and
Engineering Fair to help encourage STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
education for young people. Intel is also interested in making these areas more diverse; the
company has many donation funds and programs to encourage girls and underprivileged
minorities to study in these fields. Employees of Intel also experience the company’s dedication
to education through a very strange corporate perk — the company promotes or reassigns them
to different fields and areas every 16 to 24 months, in the interest of making sure that workers
never become bored with their roles, and encouraging them to explore new fields. Accepted
employees are often told, “Welcome to your next five jobs.”

The other companies which top in practicing business ethics worldwide:

1. Patagonia
2. NuStar Energy
3. SAS Institute
4. Ultimate Software
5. Goldman Sachs
6. Starbucks
7. Salesforce.com

Two Indian companies among most ethical in the world:

1. TATA Steel
2. Wipro Limited

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 22


CONCLUSION

BUSINESS ETHICS Page 23

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy