Question

Many businesses cut corners to increase profits. In many cases, cutting corners hurt the consumers. If taking a decision will increase your company’s bottom line, and the decision is unethical; however, it will not hurt anyone adversely. In fact, it will save your company from going out of business and save jobs for hundreds of employees. Should you take that decision? Elaborate on your answer.

Answer 1

If a Company is dwelling upon taking an unethical decision that may not adversely harm anyone, it also shows that the Company has not much of a concern to run the business in light unethical ways. All it is concerned with is, that of growing the bottom line and making profits. It is rather a selfish approach to even justify an unethical act, which is otherwise absolutely avoidable, reasoning that it shall save jobs for hundreds of employees. If this argument is bought even for the moment, the future of the Company and its employees shall still be at stake, if such an unethical decision later surfaces to the Public or media. In such a circumstances as well, to hide one unethical decision’s exposure, few more may be taken and this shall result into a vicious cycle of unethical acts within the Company. In that case also, the Public trust in that Company shall reduce, the bottom line shrink and thereby making the employees lose their jobs anyway. On the other hand, their little approach towards being ethical, may not only raise them in the eyes of the employees and the Public but also ensure the long-term survival of the Company. In fact, there could be various other ways to vouch the confidence of the people in general for the Company. The Company can take steps like involving the employees in the decision-making scenario, undertaking some feasible CSR steps to gauge more reputation in the society, etc. Certain genuine efforts can take the Company long way instead of resorting to unethical means, whether big or small in nature.