Emerging Business Ethics Issues

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The difficulties
Conflict of interest
Discrimination in business
Employees’ equality
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

In any business environment, business operators perceive it as a game or a competition where everyone struggles to emerge the winner. Most of the decisions made in the business concerning operations modes come from business owners. Little consideration on matters to do with honesty, fairness, and integrity are done by business owners when making these decisions. This is the reason why there are numerous cases of crisis emerging in business organizations. The presence of many ethical dilemmas in the business calls for business owners to make their decisions honestly, fairly, and with integrity. This is to ensure that no one is adversely affected by decisions made. Some of the issues that arise in the business environment and calls for fairness, honesty, and integrity are intimidating behaviors exhibited in the business, sexual harassment, discrimination as well as conflict of interest.

The difficulties

In the business environment, it is difficult to identify behaviors that are seen to be abusive or intimidating. This is because different people have different ways of taking things in the business. Some of the actions considered to be intimidating include physical threats, yelling at employees, vulgarity, and ignoring people in business. The use of vulgar language among people in a business environment is very common. To some, this is common and they do not take the issue seriously. However, there are those in the business who are not used to such habits (Ferrell, Fraedrich & Ferrell, 2009, p. 83). Using this language when working with them would appear odd. Such people become annoyed and feel uncomfortable in such an environment. It becomes hard for them to be productive. When one is dealing with his or her employees, it is imperative to ensure that he or she has clearly understood what is good for them and what is wrong for them. This will ensure that every employee is treated fairly in the business. Using threats on employees may make them feel not at ease whenever they are at work. This may make them doubt your integrity leading to them failing to be loyal to you. Integrity is one of the pillars that lead to business growth. It leads to employees being loyal thus improving their productivity.

Conflict of interest

There comes a time when business operators face a conflict of interest between them and their employees as well as their customers. Failing to make a viable decision at such a moment may lead to business collapsing. At times, business operators tend to serve their ego at the expense of their employees or customers. When there happens to be a conflict of interest between the business and employees, business operators need to ensure that they honestly analyze the situation before making their final decision (Ferrell, Fraedrich & Ferrell, 2009, pp. 87-114). This facilitates in ensuring that no one suffers from the decision arrived at. Making decisions that favor the business at the expense of employees or consumers will lead to employees leaving the business. This may lead to business operators incurring losses as they have to recruit new employees. A decision made that does not favor consumers may lead to their dissatisfaction thus failing to return to the business. Consulting one’s employees and customers at such instance would make them realize the honesty in decisions one arrives at.

Discrimination in business

Discrimination in the business environment may take different forms. This may be against race, age as well as gender. Business operators may make decisions that appear discriminatory without them knowing (Hoffman, Kamm, & Frederick, 1993, p. 265). To them, they may perceive it to be in the interest of the business while to others it may appear to be discrimination. Cases such as promotion in business need business operators to come out clearly about the criteria they use in promoting people. This would eliminate the doubt among some employees of them being discriminated against when it comes to promotion in the business. Promoting people of one gender and leaving the other would raise the question of the employer’s integrity in his actions. This would lead to the other gender failing to be actively involved in the business.

Employees’ equality

Every employee must be treated equally in the business. In most cases, there arise problems of sexual harassment in business. Business employers, as well as employees, need to make considerations when addressing their fellow employees. Some statements or actions made at the workplace may appear to be sexual harassment. Sexual harassment at the workplace affects the victims both physically and emotionally. One may not only become unproductive but may also lose his or her esteem. Being honest when addressing employees for the case of employers or fellow employees in an employee-employee relationship environment will ensure that no one is intimidated in the business (Hoffman, Kamm, & Frederick, 1993, pp. 267-273).

Conclusion

Honesty, fairness, and integrity are very important in a business environment. The three elements are important in improving the relationship between employees and their employers as well as the relationship among employees. Employers who ensure that they honestly make decisions affecting the business lead to employees becoming loyal to him or them. Consequently, employees become productive. Integrity in business leads to trust among stakeholders thus developing a culture of teamwork.

Reference

Ferrell, O.C., Fraedrich, J. & Ferrell, L. (2009). Business Ethics, Ethical Decision Making & Cases, Seventh Edition. Boston, MA: Prentice Hall

Hoffman, W. M., Kamm, J. B. & Frederick, R. (1993). Emerging Global Business Ethics. Westport: Quorum Books.

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