Transcript Document 7381995

CHAPTER 14
ENHANCING ETHICAL
BEHAVIOR
EXAMPLES OF ETHICAL
REASONING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Not covering up having been fired
from previous job during
interview.
Employees reporting on each other
for wrongdoing.
Being honest about a delivery
date.
Not taking home a few office
supplies.
Not hiring a “hot” candidate over
someone else better qualified.
EXAMPLES OF UNETHICAL
REASONING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Expense account cheating if
employee needs the money.
Conducting personal business on
company time.
Flirt with boss to get higher pay.
Calling in sick when feeling well.
Taking credit for coworker’s idea.
People Are Motivated by
&
self-interest
the desire to do
something
right
WHY BE CONCERNED ABOUT
BUSINESS ETHICS



A good ethics reputation can
enhance business.
Many unethical acts are illegal
leading to financial loss and
imprisonment.
High ethics can increase quality of
work life.
SAMPLE CLAUSES FROM
COMPANY ETHICAL CODES

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Demonstrate courtesy, respect,
honesty, and fairness.
Do not use abusive language.
Do not bring firearms or knives to
work.
Do not offer bribes.
Maintain confidentiality of records.
Do not harass anybody in anyway.
WHY BEING ETHICAL
ISN’T EASY



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Ethical decisions are complex.
People do not always recognize the
moral issues in a decision.
People have different levels of moral
development.
The work environment could be
unethical.
Some people have a predisposition to
be unethical (utilitarian).
EMPLOYEE REPORTS OF
UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Worker abuse or intimidation
(22%)
Lying to stakeholders (19%)
Violations of safety regulations
(16%)
Misreporting of time worked
(16%)
Job discrimination (12%)
Theft (11%)
Sexual harassment (9%)
FREQUENT ETHICAL DILEMMAS




Illegally copying software
Treating people unfairly (only
performance and qualifications
should count)
Sexual harassment (illegal and
unethical)
Conflict of interest (your
judgment or objectivity is
compromised)
FREQUENT ETHICAL DILEMMAS, cont.


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Dealing with confidential
information
Presenting employment history
(many people lie or distort
information)
Use of corporate resources
Ethically violating computers and
information technology
Choosing between two rights
(dealing with defining moments)
CRONYISM IN THE WORKPLACE




Cronyism is giving jobs to people
who have done personal favors for
you.
Crony is often hired instead of more
qualified candidate.
Widely practiced in the form of
political appointments in
government.
In business, the owner or CEO often
gives plum jobs to cronies.
COMPONENTS OF WORKPLACE
VIRTUOUSNESS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rationality (take reality seriously)
Honesty (the refusal to fake reality)
Independence (use own rational
judgment)
Productivity (creating the material
values your life requires)
Forgiveness (if breach is not big)
A GUIDE (OR SCREEN) TO
ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
1.
2.
3.
4.
Gather the facts (e.g., any legal
issues here?).
Define the ethical issues (could
involve character traits).
Identify the affected parties (who
might get hurt?).
Identify the consequences
(including the symbolic
consequences).
GUIDE TO ETHICAL DECISION
MAKING, continued
5.
6.
7.
8.
Identify the obligations (also, why
are you obliged to a given
group?).
Consider your character and
integrity (what would others think
of you?).
Think creatively about potential
actions (several solutions may
exist).
Use your intuition (how does your
contemplated decision feel?).
MORE GUIDELINES FOR
BEHAVIING ETHICALLY


Developing strong relationships with
work associates (e.g. Two people
with strong ties to each other are
more likely to be honest with each
other.)
Using corporate ethics programs
(e.g. a committee that monitors
ethical behavior and an ethics
training program)
A FEW MORE GUIDELINES FOR
BEHAVING ETHICALLY
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Be environmentally conscious (take
steps on your own, and be an
advocate for the environment).
Follow an appropriate code of
professional conduct (e.g., a
paralegal would not betray
confidences).
Be ready to exert upward ethical
leadership (attempt to change
unethical behavior by boss).
SUSTAINING THE
ENVIRONMENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Adjust thermostat down in winter,
up in summer.
Place a lawn on the roof.
Carpool with at least three
coworkers.
Encourage use of mass
transportation.
Subsidize purchase of hybrid
vehicles.
Turn off machine when not in use.
SUSTAINING THE
ENVIRONMENT, continued
7.
8.
9.
10.
Replace incandescent bulbs with
fluorescent bulbs.
Recycle as many packages as
possible; use old newspapers for
packing material.
Use mugs instead of Styrofoam
cups.
Get LEED certification for new
buildings.
SUSTAINING THE
ENVIRONMENT, concluded
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Provide employees bicycle racks
and showers.
Capture rainwater for irrigation.
Grow vegetation on company
premises; celebrate by planting
trees.
Encourage others not to drive at
high speeds, or idle car while on
phone.
Your contribution:
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