Question

Ethics/Social Responsibility

Despite the best efforts of an organization, unethical practices will occur. The unethical behavior could take many forms, such as cutting corners by engaging in unsafe work practices, bullying and intimidating others, or stealing from the employer. For example, bullying behaviors at work (e.g., name calling, false allegations, and taking undue credit) are all too common, with one survey finding 62 percent of respondents reporting that they had experienced bullying at work. Bullying and other unethical behaviors can have a negative impact on workers. If the offensive behavior continues, employee satisfaction and productivity can suffer. Sometimes incidents of unethical behavior are not reported because workers are concerned about possible negative repercussions, particularly if the offender is in a superior position to them in the organization. Helping to provide workers with skills to challenge unethical actions can help eliminate offending behaviors and can send a clear signal to workers that the organization is taking a strong, proactive stance on ethics.

Training that focuses on recognizing unethical behavior and, most import, addresses how to challenge such behaviors can be helpful for workers. For example, covering communication techniques and exploring how to challenge inappropriate behavior effectively can improve skills and raise awareness. However, understanding and improved communication skills can still leave workers lacking the confidence to actually challenge someone who is engaged in unethical behavior, such as bullying others. Providing opportunities to practice challenging unacceptable behavior can be effective. For example, using role plays that incorporate how to challenge an offender and feedback on performance can improve both skill and confidence levels.

1. Write about reasons for why it might be important to have ethics training, even when a clear ethics code is in place. Be as detailed with your response as possible.

Answer 1

Ethics is basically the moral philosophy and principles which decide the way an individual behaves in different situations. Usually customers value companies which are ethical and value moral principles.

Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR in general, refers to the sense of morality and ethical responsibility that the profit making companies must have, for the betterment as well as upliftment of the overall society. The basic objective of social responsibilities for a company is to take responsibility for the sustenance and ecology of the society and leave a positive impact in the society, through its initiatives and business processes.

Carroll’s CSR Pyramid is used to exhibit the responsibility of a company in terms of CSR.

• Philanthropic responsibilities:
  • This aspect requires the company to be a good corporate citizen
  • The company must consider it as a responsibility to give back to the society
  • Example: Charitable donations
• Legal responsibilities:
  • This requires the company to be lawful
  • The company must keep a tab on legal requirements of the region in all its business processes
  • Example: Minimum basic work conditions of workers
• Ethical responsibilities
  • The company must act ethically as well as morally
  • The company must try to be ethical in all its business processes
  • Example: Relationship with vendors and suppliers
• Economic responsibilities
  • This responsibility requires the company to make profits
  • Every business process of the company must be profit oriented

But there are companies which have violated ethical principles and lead to scandals. Enron is one such great example of a potentially high performing turning to a scandal. The company indulged in insider trading and bluffed several of its customers.

So, the ethical training is quite important for companies and employees, so that the social and moral perspective is given importance in the way, the company indulges in conducting its business practices. The ethics training keeps the company and its management morally grounded and socially aware so that they take business decisions ensuring utilitarianism fundamental and keep any kind of anti-social and unethical perspectives and scandals at bay.