Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. Potter Stewart, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court (1958 – 1981)
Business ethically is all about doing the right thing in the business. Whose responsibility is it to act ethically in a company? The answer is: everyone’s. Respect and responsibility – these are the basic principles of ethics: employees who do their jobs responsibly and efficiently and bosses who care about their employees’ quality of life. Also, every company should be contributing to the well-being of the local and global community and feel responsible for the environment which it is part of. In a word, all business actions should be well-planned and carefully considered.
When deciding whether a decision is ethical, it might be helpful to ask the following questions: Is the action legal? Does it comply with company rules and values? Would you do it to your family or friends? How would you feel if somebody else did it to you? Both your company and your customers expect results from you. But they should be achieved in a legal and morally acceptable way. Start with the ‘small stuff’: How do you treat your co-workers? Do you talk about them behind their back? Would you tell a lie to make a sale? How do you use the copy machine, the Internet, the telephone? How knowledgeable are you about the laws and regulations that pertain to what you do?
If somebody proposes an action that you believe is wrong, you should take a stand and refuse. Business owners should always set a positive example and inform their employees on how they are expected to behave. A company must not violate the laws and regulations of the country in which it operates. It has to be responsible for the safety of both its workers and its customers. It should never promote products in an untruthful way or sell those harmful to human health in any way. It should never try to trick customers into buying a product or using a service just so the company could make a profit.
