Business Ethics

HF 5387 F75 1997

I read about the ethical issues faced by businesses today. One ethical issue that I have encountered was bribery. Bribery is the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of something of value for the purpose of influencing the action of an official in the discharge of his or her public or legal duties. Bribe also creates a private interest which is likely to be in conflict with other organization’s interest. Bribery is most often used to gain sales, to enter new markets, or to change or avoid public policy.

Coercion is also one of the problems that a business is having today. Coercion may involve the threat of blocking a promotion, the loss of a job, or blackballing an individual in the industry. It may be forcing a person to act in a manner that is against the person’s personal beliefs.

Deception is another ethical problem that businesses are having today. Deception manipulates people and firms by misleading them. Deception is the act of deceiving; intentional misleading by falsehood spoken or acted. Knowingly and willingly making a false statement or representation, expressed or implied, pertaining to a present or past existing fact.

Unfair Discrimination is also tackled as one of the issues in business ethics. Unfair Discrimination is an unfair treatment or denial of normal privileges to person because of their race, age, sex, nationality or religion. A failure to treat all persons equally when no reasonable distinction can be found between those favored and those not favored.

I also learned that moral standards are the yardsticks of business ethics. They provide the basis for deciding whether an act is right or wrong. Moral standards can be used to defend the moral worth of an act, or they can be used to expose the moral bankruptcy of a decision.

“I don't want you to follow me or anyone else. If you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of the capitalist wilderness, you will stay right where you are. I would not lead you into this Promised Land if I could because if I could lead you in, someone else could lead you out”, this is a quote by Eugene V. Debs. I think this quote is trying to say that influence can mislead or lead you to the right path and by thinking in ethical manners; you may find a good influence that will teach you the way to the Promised Land.

“Ethics and religion must not stay at home when we go to work.” said Achille Silvestrini. I believe on this said quote, because your ethics defines who you are as a person. It is not only your friends that defines who you are, but also the ethics you carry with you.