Ethics and Social Ethics and Social ResponsibilityResponsibility

Chapter 4

Bell Ringer!!!!Bell Ringer!!!!

Write a paragraph explaining why businesses should be concerned with ethics.

Ethics in BusinessEthics in Business

Ethics – set of moral principles or values that govern behavior◦Managers must face sometimes difficult ethical

decisions in business situations.Code of Ethics – document that outlines

the principles of conduct to be used in making decisions within an organization

A A Code of EthicsCode of Ethics Content May Content May Address the following:Address the following:

HonestyAdherence to the lawProduct safety and

qualityHealth and safety in

the workplaceConflicts of interestEmployment practicesStaffing and

marketing practicesFinancial reportingPricing, billing, and

contracting

Trading in securities/using confidential information

Acquiring and using information about competitors

SecurityPayments to obtain

bonusesProtection of the

environment

Behaving Ethically and Behaving Ethically and UnethicallyUnethically p. 86p. 86

Behaving ethically:◦Helps employees gain the most of the people

with whom they work◦Helps businesses gain the trust of customers,

suppliers, and othersBehaving unethically:

◦Can hurt or end a businessperson’s career◦Can cause a company to lose millions of dollars

or even go out of business altogether

Behaving HonestlyBehaving Honestly

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002◦Due to Enron and WorldCom scandals,

President Bush signed this act that affects the reporting and governance of public companies and their directors and officers.

Employee Theft◦Employers trust their employees not to steal

from them. Embezzlement Stealing supplies, inventory

Behaving HonestlyBehaving Honestly

Hours worked◦Employees who behave ethically are honest

about the hours they work.◦Ethical employees will only miss work when they

are truly ill or have a legitimate reason to be home.

Records◦One of the worst ethical lapses an employee can

commit is falsifying records. Damages company reputation Can have grave effects on health of public (i.e.

pharmaceutical company)

Dealing with Ethical DilemmasDealing with Ethical Dilemmas

An ethical dilemma is a situation in which the ethical course of action is not clear.◦Examples: your boss tells you your friend will

be fired, you notice a co-worker has been accepting expensive gifts (violating company’s code of ethics)

Some companies, like Boeing, hire a Director of Business Practices to help with these situations.

Solving Ethical Dilemmas – Ask:Solving Ethical Dilemmas – Ask:

Have you defined the problem accurately?How would you define the problem if you

stood on the other side of the fence?Whom could your decision or action

injure? Can you discuss the problem with the affected parties before you make your decision?

Solving Ethical Dilemmas - AskSolving Ethical Dilemmas - Ask

Are you confident that your position will be as valid over a long period of time as it seems now?

Could you disclose without qualm your decision to action to your boss, your CEO, the board of directors, your family, and society as a whole?

Laws Relating to Ethical Laws Relating to Ethical BehaviorBehavior

The Sherman Act◦Monopolies became illegal.

The Clayton Act of 1914◦Charging different wholesales customers

different prices became illegal.◦Requiring customers to purchase a second item

also became illegal.Wheeler-Lea Act of 1938

◦Banned unfair or deceptive acts, such as false advertising, inform customers of possible negative consequences of using products.

Consumer ProtectionConsumer Protection

Several laws and agencies were designed to protect consumers against unethical and unsafe business practices:

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 ◦Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ◦Forces manufacturers to recall products that may

be defectiveTruth in Lending Act of 1968

Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969◦Created Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)◦Protects human health and safeguards the air, water,

and land.The Clean Air Act of 1970

◦Regulates air emissions.The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976

◦Gave the EPA the ability to track industrial chemicals produced In or importing into the U.S.

The Clean Water Act of 1977◦Sets standards on the type and quality of pollutants

that industries can put into bodies of water

Ethical Standards and CultureEthical Standards and Culture

Corporate Gift Giving◦In Japan, lavish gifts are a part of business.◦In United States, government officials are not

allowed to accept gifts (and many corporations have policies against this).

◦When doing business abroad, be sure to understand culture.

Ethical Standards and CultureEthical Standards and Culture

Intellectual Property◦Ownership of ideas, such as inventions, books,

movies, and computer programs◦In the U.S., creators of intellectual property

have the exclusive right to market and sell their work (guaranteed through patent, trademark, and copyright laws)

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!STOP!!!!!!!!!!!

END 4.1

Complete Section 4.1 Assessment ◦Page 95

Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility

Social responsibility refers to the obligation that individuals or businesses have to help solve social problems. ◦Profit Maximization◦Trusteeship Management◦Social Involvement◦Philanthropy and Volunteerism◦Environmental Awareness◦Sensitivity to Diversity and Quality of Work Life

Profit MaximizationProfit Maximization

In th19th and early 20th centuries, business owners in the U.S. believe that their role was simply to maximize profits their companies earned.

Social problems were not considered a legitimate business activity.

Trustee ManagementTrustee Management

Recognized that owners of business had obligations to do more than just earn profits.

Businesses had obligations to their employees, their customer, and their creditors.

Most businesspeople continued to hold this view until the 1960’s.

Social InvolvementSocial Involvement

During the 1960’s, people believed businesses should use their influence to address social issues, such as poverty, crime, environmental destruction, and illiteracy.

Business have obligations to all the people affected by their actions – stakeholders.◦Employees, customers, suppliers, and the

community

Social AuditSocial Audit

A review of a businesses social responsiveness

Philanthropy and Philanthropy and VolunteerismVolunteerism

A company can demonstrate social responsibility by contributing time and money to charitable, cultural, and civic organizations.

Some companies grant employees paid time off to participate in charitable activities.

Many companies offer “matching” programs.

Environmental AwarenessEnvironmental Awareness

Businesses limit the damage their business causes on the environment.

Business can establish policies to reduce pollution.◦For example, encouraging employees to

carpool.

Business can use biodegradable and refillable containers.◦Ex: The Body Shop

Sensitivity to Diversity and Sensitivity to Diversity and Quality of Work LifeQuality of Work Life

Maintaining ethnically diverse workforces hat reflect the societies in which they operate.

Enacting policies that contribute to the quality of workers’ lives◦Flexible hours◦On-site day care