Corporate E-Learning

A company’s ethics will determine its reputation. Good business ethics are essential for the long-term success of an organization. Implementing an ethical program will foster a successful company culture and increase profitability. Developing a business ethics program takes time and effort, but doing so will do more than improve business, it will change lives. A company's ethics will have an influence on all levels of business. It will influence all who interact with the company including customers, employees, suppliers, competitors, etc. All of these groups will have an effect on the way a company's ethics are developed. It is a two way street, the influence goes both ways, which makes understanding ethics a very important part of doing business today. Ethics is very important, as news can now spread faster and farther than ever before.

A human being’s personal ethics determine individual standards of right and wrong. Ethics allow people to determine what they should do in a given situation. Each person develops ethical standards, and it is the responsibility of each individual to examine personal morals and behavior. In business, ethics refers to the behavior relating to the moral problems that occur in business organizations.

Implementing ethics in the workplace is a complex but rewarding task. Every individual has a unique set of ethical standards. Allowing each person to follow his or her moral compass will result in varied results. Companies need to focus on implementing uniform ethical standards and rules throughout their organizations. Employees should never have to question whether or not they are doing the right thing.

An ethical organization is able to balance the rights of employees with the rights of the employer. The personal rights of each party may seem to conflict at times, and the privacy laws vary between states. This is why privacy policies are so important. Instituting clear privacy policies will prevent any confusion between employees and employers. When creating policies, employers need to remember that they are obligated to provide employees with a safe work environment that is free from harassment, and this may require what some people consider an invasion of privacy.

Most successful businesses operate with socially responsible business practices. Being socially responsible requires companies to integrate the needs of their stakeholders into the values and operations of their organizations. Stakeholders typically include investors, customers, employees, the community, and the environment. Social responsibility strives to consider all of these needs in their business practices.

We should always attempt to make ethical decisions. It is possible, however, for two ethical people to make different decisions in a situation. In business, it is important that people understand ethical dilemmas and the ethical decision-making process.

Whistle blowing is either seen as a public service or a petty act of tattle telling. Whistleblowers create public concern over misconduct. Blowing the whistle is not an easy decision to make. While legally protected, whistleblowers take on serious personal risks by informing on their employers. There are circumstances, however, that need to be reported in order to protect the public.

Managers have a responsibility to behave ethically and manage ethically. They set the example for all employees and will determine how effective ethics management can be. Ethical management provides a number of benefits, both to the company culture and financial gain of the organization.

Employees will act unethically from time to time. It is important to be able to identify unethical behavior and address it. A successful manager should also be able to prevent poor behavior and intervene before the behavior escalates.

Ethics in business requires diligence and hard work. The entire organization needs to be on the same page in order for people to make ethical decisions. It is important to create codes and principles to guide people. The ethical principles and codes that the company uses, however, should directly reflect the needs of the business.

A successful ethics program needs safeguards and a clear code of ethics. In order to get the most from a program, it is necessary to evaluate and make adjustments from time to time. Becoming an ethical business is a process that takes time, but it is possible to succeed if all those involved uphold the program and continue working towards a common goal.

Although this workshop is coming to a close, we hope that your journey to improve your business ethics is just beginning. Please take a moment to review and update your action plan. This will be a key tool to guide your progress in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We wish you the best of luck on the rest of your travels!