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Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

Business Ethics in the Workplace

Noah Long
University of Kentucky

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

There has always been an argument of how to introduce ethics into the world of business
and workplaces in general. One of the big ethical dilemmas that is being evaluated right now in
regards to business and workplace is the difference in pay between men and women. The big
question is why women arent being paid the same amount for the same amount of work. And in
order to find answers to this question and other questions as well we have to ask ourselves four
questions: What do business ethics encompass? Why are business ethics important? Is there
actually a problem with ethics in the workplace? How do we fix it?
The first question that needs to be addressed is that
of, what exactly are business ethics and what all goes into
business ethics. A man that is very knowledgeable about
ethics and how they are used in the realm of business said
that ethics include an individuals morals, ethics and
characteristics. (Young, 2014) This is saying that there is more to ethics than just the idea of
ethics. It also implies that everyone can have their own idea of ethics because each person is
made differently and in turn, might think ethics are different. Thats is one reason why ethics is a
hard thing to communicate to other people. Everyone has their own view on what ethics is and
what it encompasses.
But it does get easier on a broader scale, when speaking about ethics around the world. A
contributor to an article discussing the business ethics of Asia said When you come get down to
ethics there is no difference. For most things, right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter which
country youre in. (Kent, 2014) So this might seem contradictory but it really isnt. The first
part is basically saying that it is hard to define ethics because it is made up of a couple of

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

different factors, whereas the other part is saying that no matter what culture you are from, right
is right and wrong is wrong.
This is not contradictory because even though we all have different opinions and views
on different situations, we can all usually come together and eventually decide whether or not
something is right or wrong. So, the black and white answer to what are ethics in regards to
business and the workplace is that there is not a black and white answer. The best answer is that
it is an ever changing view on what is right and what is wrong. Appling this to the workplace and
business in general and easy but is often overlooked because people dont understand why it is
important to have ethical conversations within the workplace. So why is it important?
The next big question that needs to be asked is, why is it important to be ethical and have
ethical conversations within the workplace? The simple and generic answer is that it is the right
thing to do and that should be enough of a reason; but that doesnt fully fulfill the question.
Another reason why we should want to be ethical in the workplace is because it helps the
business to run smoothly.
In a recent speech to a university, an executive of Dow chemical company explained that
ethics in the workplace help everything from the bottom to the very top (Liveris, 2010) It is
important to note this quote because he is implying that without ethics in the workplace or within
the realm of business, it would not go very well. Saying that there is a need for people to do the
right things, or else there would be chaos and dismay within the workplace. Ethics keep things
running smoothly. Another person considered to be kept in high regards when talking about
ethics is Jennifer Bresnahan. She stated that companies with solid ethics programs enjoy a
competitive advantage in attracting customers, employees and investors. (Bresnahan, 1999)
This is also another fantastic reason why it is important to practice good ethics in the workplace.

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

This shows that this is important because it states that those businesses that practice correct
ethical behavior are more likely to obtain quality employees that get the job done. They are more
likely to retain customers because they treat those same customers with respect and ethical
behavior. And because of both of these things, these businesses usually make more money and
for a longer period of time. And because of the previous reasons, it is shown that it is very
important for people and businesses to practice and perform ethical procedures.
It is important because first and foremost, its the right thing to do. But it is also
important to practice ethical business behaviors because it gives business a competitive edge in
regards to customers and profit. So if there are these benefits to being ethical, is there even still a
problem with ethics within business?
So in this day and age, with all of the advancements in ethics and understandings of how
we are supposed to treat one another, do we still have a problem with ethics in the workplace and
in the world of business? Some might say that we as a culture have made great strides in
becoming more ethical when it comes to decision making in the workplace and in the business
culture as a whole. Even though that is true, we as a whole should not be satisfied with better, we
should be satisfied with the best. Back to the first question of why do women get paid less for
doing the same work that men do. Even though it has always been this way in most professions,
such as office work and teaching, it doesnt mean it should always remain like that.
According to a case study on how specific companies behave ethically and if they do not
behave ethically. This specific case study found that the majority of companies do practice
ethical behavior and have programs that help people understand what ethical behavior versus
unethical behavior is. The case study also found that there is still a problem with ethics in the
workplace. The study explained that there is a difference between teaching ethical and

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

understanding what ethical behavior is and actually enacting or doing the fore mentioned ethical
behavior. Even though many of employees and executives have to go through training such as
sexual harassment and equal opportunity, and having that information at their disposal.
Some people in the workplace, even with this information and training, still do not do the
ethical thing or behave ethical in that given situation. This makes it so that it isnt as big of a
problem as it has been in the past. The problem of ethics in the workplace is not as serious as it
has been in the past. So the last question must be asked. How do we as a culture fix the problem
with the remaining bit of people who still behave unethically within a workplace or business
environment?
Well, this is a hard problem to fix and a hard thing to attempt to
make better within a short period of time. Things of this nature usually
take decades to fix themselves, for example, the civil rights movement
and the womens suffrage movement. They were both unethical
situations, but they did get fixed with an extended period of time.
Unethical behavior in the workplace is not as serious a problem as the civil rights movement or
womens suffrage, but it is still a problem.
According to an article written by Kate McFarlin, there are multiple steps to creating an
ethical workplace for all those involved in the workplace. The first step as she explains is to set
an example for the workforce. (McFarlin, 2014) It is the leaders responsibility to set a good
example for the employees to follow. Monkey see, monkey do concept. She goes on to list more
steps to creating the ideal ethical environment, but there is one step that I find to be the most
important. Step two is the most vital step. Create a policy dealing with ethics. (McFarlin,
2014) This allows employees to have an understanding of how to handle each ethical situation,

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

because they come in all different shapes and sizes. This also does not allow employees to say
that they did not understand how to handle situation because there is an outline on how to handle
the situation. And, if that employee doesnt handle the situation the appropriate way, it would be
up to the employer to handle that situation when it arises.
In conclusion, business ethics is still a topic that is in discussion in popular culture with
things such as the gender wealth gap, but it is also still discussed within the workplace. It is still
discussed because there has yet to be a viable solution to completely dealing with the issue of
employees being ethical within the workplace. There are some treatments to this problem, but
there is no cure and it is doubtful that there ever will be a complete cure for it. The main thing
that can be done within the workplace and the realm of business is to give it time and allow a lot
of the problems with the ethical dilemmas within the workplace.

Running head: BUSINESS ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

References
Bresnahan, J. (1999, June 22). Are Your Work Ethics in Line? Retrieved October 30, 2014.
Young, S. (2014, October 22). Unexpected Cost of Ethical Behavior. Retrieved October 30,
2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/s-l-young/unexpected-cost-ofethica_b_6027034.html
Liveris, Andrew. "Ethics as a Business Strategy." UK Library. N.p., Jan. 2011. Web. 30 Oct.
2014.
Kent, Justin. "Business Ethics In Asia: Lost In Translation?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 25 Mar.
2014. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
"Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility An Anglo American Case Study."
Introduction. N.p., 15 Apr. 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
Barker, E. (2014, October 16). 4 Things Millionaires Have in Common, Backed by Research.
Retrieved November 4, 2014, from http://time.com/3510444/millionaires-in-common-successful/