Business Ethics in the

Workplace
ALEXANDRIA MOREASH-KENNEDY
What is it?

Distinguish right from wrong

Subjective
Guides the behavior of the organization
Make the right choice
Also known as misconduct
Any behavior that can cause a hostile environment
Falsifying time reports, lying to anyone within the organization or outside of the
organization (customers/vendors)
Misconduct happens in every organization, no organization is free from
ethics and compliance challenges. Patricia Harned
Examples of Unethical Behavior

Misusing company time

Poor attendance, altering time sheets, conducting non work-related business
Abusive Behavior
Perceived power; repercussions if actions are not carried out
Employee Theft
5.5 times the amount of a shoplifted ($129 vs. $715)
Lying
Violating company policies
Internet
Health and Safety
Take shortcuts to save money
Unethically Legal

Labor Ethics
Minimum wage to full-time employees
Foreign suppliers that do not possess the same ethical beliefs as the organization
in which one works
Environmental Concerns
Strict environmental laws to abide by
Unhappy citizens = going above and beyond
Marketing Ethics
Fine lines between persuasion and manipulation
Fast Foods Versus Tobacco
Statistics Prove Unethical Behavior

National Business Ethics Survey

Most recent study showed
40%of employees saw on-the-job misconduct
63% reported the misconduct (less than 1/3 suffered retaliation)

60% of misconduct involved managerial authority

senior managers

Always being watched so set an EXCELLENT example

It is hard to expect employees to do the right thing when they often see
managers break the rules. Patricia Harned
Improving Ethics in the Workplace

Right Behavior
Establish acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in the workplace
Integrity
Do the right thing most of the time
Accountability
Teamwork
Open-minded
Commitment
Go to work with a strong work ethic and positive attitude; you signed up for this
Conduct
Treat others the way you want to be treated
Overview of Ethics and its Effect

Unethical Behavior Ethical Behavior

Hard for a business to grow Trust increases
Decreased profit margin Honesty is key

Low employee morale High employee morale

High turnover rate Increased productivity rates
Distrust from employees, customers, Established sense of belonging
vendors, stakeholders, etc. Organization is viewed as an ethical
business; increased flow of customers
 If ethics are poor at the top, that
behavior is copied down through
the organization.
ROBERT NOYCE