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Ethics in a multicultural workplace
Ethics in the workplace is concerned with the standards that should be applied to issues such as accepting gifts, personal activity on company time, calling in sick and passing blame or taking credit (Rohmetra 2000). Ethics within a corporation most often reflect the values of the home country of the corporation and not the values of the workers (Moon and Wooliams 2000), this can lead to conflict. We must understand the ethics of other cultures in order to succeed (Phua and Kea 2007).
Some major differences include western values centering on universal good compared to Eastern views that look to do the best thing for those closest to us (Moon and Wooliams 2000 and Jackson 2001). Robertson, Crittenden, Brady and Hoffman (2002) investigated four major issues facing organisations in differing situations; these were sex discrimination, bribery, child labour and environmentalism, they looked at Chile, Australia, Ecuador and the United States. Their findings showed that Australians are more tolerant of bribery if they are in a difficult financial decision. Allmon, Chen, Pritchett and Forrest (1997) demonstrated that Australians were more likely to take a sick day without being sick then Taiwanese
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respondents. This raises the questions of how to manage the differences in values within multicultural teams. A review of literature in the field of multicultural ethics yields a great amount of knowledge on what particular cultures value and find ethical but there is little suggestion of how to move forward and little testing of models that might be in use. Rohmetra (2000) discusses the work of Hosmer who in 1987 proposed a model of assessing the outcome that will produce the greatest good with the least harm. There is however no research indicating organisations where this model has been applied and whether or not it is successful. I would advocate the need for multinational corporations to build a system of ethics that reflects the country in which it is operating, this may mean more than one system across the company, this however does not take into consideration the need to me mindful of the stakeholders (Becker and Fritzsche 1987) who may be across multiple countries and also hold differing ethics. Within Australia it would seem necessary to build a system of ethics in consultation with stakeholders and major cultural groups within the business. This system has not been tested but I suggest it in line with the earlier discussion on the need for synergistic leadership in Australia. Conflict arising from a multicultural workplace Conflict in a multicultural workplace can occur when any of the differences described above are not identified and understood prior to engagement.
For example the French have a flexible relationship with time whereas Australians when setting a meeting time expect all parties to arrive at the agreed time. Failure of the French participant to arrive on time may be seen by the Australian meeting organiser as a sign of rudeness or lack of concern for the meeting. If this concern is not voiced an unacknowledged conflict may destroy a business deal before it even begins. Conflict can be avoided by gaining knowledge of the values and behaviours of the other culture and then clearly establishing guidelines to address and areas of
concern. Conclusion Johnstone and Kanitsaki (2008) found evidence of ‘insidious (and largely unacknowledged) racist and assimilationist attitudes among staff – at all levels and in all areas of practice” (pp. 143). This is reflected in the current re-emergence of Pauline Hansen who is espousing anti-Muslim rhetoric. With evidence of racial attitudes appearing in research and current media it seems it is important now more than ever to spread a message of tolerance and embrace a synergistic approach to leadership and ethics. It is essential that Australian organisations develop educational programs that provide knowledge about cultural differences as well as experiential programs. These programs must be supported at every level of the organisation by strong values of inclusion.
Ethical values may come in all shapes and sizes; we may grow up with a certain set of ethics and/or values that change and conform to our environment. This widely depends on where we end up later in life as in our professional career or our personal lives because different situations can affect how we interrupt ethics and social responsibility. Work may influence or provide a new set of lenses in how ethics are viewed. We are given a set of ethics to adhere to while employed. By definition, “that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and
Ethics or rather morals entail mechanisms that defend, systematize as well as recommend conceptions of right or wrong. Many organizations develop ethical codes to ensure employees and employers understand the difference in doing good or bad. In that respect, ethics are an essential aspect of successfully running of any organization or government. Ethics ensure employee’s productivity levels are up to the required standards. It also assists them to know their rights and responsibilities. Additionally, employers, as well as any persons in management, are guided by them to ensure they provide transparent leadership. Ethics also defines how customers should be handled. Ethical codes govern the relationship between customers and an
Generally when someone begins speaking about diversity in the workplace, thoughts of Affirmative Action, racial diversity, or even sexual equality are usually foremost in our thoughts. However, diversity in the workplace really is so much more than this, we must also consider aging workers, handicapped workers, those with alternative lifestyles, and even physical traits to name others (For the sake of simplification, throughout this paper these will usually be included in the term, minorities).
Ethics in business is a highly important concept, as it can affect a company’s profits, salaries paid to employees and CEOs, and public opinion, among many other aspects of a business. Ethics can be enforced by company policies and guidelines, set a precedent when a company is faced with an important decision, and are also evolving thanks to new technology and situations that arise due to technology usage. Businesses have a duty to maintain their ethical responsibilities and also to help their employees enforce these responsibilities in and out of the workplace. However, ethics and the foundation for them are not always black and white. There are many different ethical theories, however Utilitarianism, Kant’s Deontological ethics, and Virtue ethics are three of the most well known theories in existence. Each theory is distinct in that it has a different quality used to determine ethicality and allows for a person to choose which system of ethics works best with both the situation and his or her personal ethical preferences.
In today’s global society, a Code of Ethics policy is used to label established, acceptable behaviors among that industry’s business associates, potential investors, and the corporation’s executive officers and employees, and most important, the consumer (Ethics Resource Center, 2003). In an attempt to promote an increased efficiency and productivity potential level, among employees and prospective clients, a corporation’s standard Code of Ethics should guide its members toward a more in-depth examination of their personal moral activity, and how these actions affect the people or acquaintances they encounter. A company should utilize this strategy as a model for the professional behaviors and responsibilities of its constituents, and proves the occupational advancement of that business. Ethics are important in every level of a corporation, but specifically in the day-to-day actions of its members, and the image the company broadcasts to its associates is fundamental in building a stable business foundation. These pledges are a vital communication tool used to covey the firm’s standards for business operations, and predominantly, its relationships with the surrounding communities (Ethics Resource Center, 2003).
Ethics shapes our attitudes towards the world, other people, and cultures and how we process right from wrong. I would love to believe that the world is made up of individuals that have a high level of integrity and pure ethical fibers; however, this is not the world in which we live in. Ethics or rather morals entail mechanisms that defend, systematize as well as recommended conceptions of right or wrong, good and bad. Interestingly, organizations have to develop ethical codes to ensure employees and employers understand the difference in doing right or wrong. It is no secret that ethics are an essential aspect of successfully running any organization or government, yet, countless corporations grow precipitously on unethical practices. Ethics
By definition, ethics refers to "a set of principles of right conduct." It is also defined as "the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession," (www.thefreedictionary.com) and in business may be considered the standards governing the conduct of people in the business environment. Business ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world. It relies on values as a way of guiding behaviour in business.
Ethical standards that evolved over the history of Western civilization deal with interpersonal relationships. What is right or wrong? What one should do and not do when dealing with other people. Ethical behavior in a business environment has not been as clearly defined. When businesses were small and the property of a few individuals, traditional ethical standards were applied to meet different situations. However, as businesses became larger, the interpersonal ethical relations did not provide any clear behavioral guidelines. Likewise, the principles of ethical relationships were even less pertinent to the corporate environments.
Ethics deals with actions with adequate standard of attitudes, behavior that is pleasing to the people or organizations. Every job has a code of ethical conduct that is supposed to be is followed. It is very necessary to understand that ethical rules must apply and obey with basis of what is right and wrong which is written in the law. That is why there are professions that have organizations or associations which have the method of ethical conducts or standard.
Racism has been a problem since before you and I were born. Racism in the workplace can cause lowered pay, aggressive behavior, and overall bad feeling in the minds of the person affected. This can become bad for the employer and society. Racism still plays a part in certain workplaces when it comes to people getting the job that they would like. Learning how to deal with racism during these situations can also be challenging. When looking for a job, you would want a job that is going to treat you equality and fairness as everyone else. Racism in the workplace has caused many problems in different ethnic groups.
Understand and heed cultural differences - cultural variables in transacting international business. (1991, January 28). Business America. FindArticles.com., Retrieved March 20, 2009, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1052/is_n2_v112/ai_10412261/pg_4?tag=content;col1
Ethics in the Workplace "Ethics are personal and, at the same time, a very public display of your attitudes and beliefs. It is because of ethical beliefs that we humans may act differently in different situations" (University of Phoenix, 2007). Poor ethical choices in the workplace can truly hurt people. Poor ethics can damage their career, happiness, and quality of life. Not only can these actions hurt the individual who has made the bad choices, but also most often it hurts the innocent.
Rovere Sailsman PHI2630 Dr. Jeffrey Nall 30 November 2014 Word Count: Diverse Ethical Analysis Essay Pornography; a word that is and still remains to be one of the most controversial and highly discussed topics in today’s culture. Like any other debate, there are always two opposing sides to an issue. Along with this prevalent discussion, there are individuals who view pornography as a source of entertainment, a form of artistic/sexual expression, and also as a basis of “harmless” sexual gratification.
Ethics in the workplace is a very important thing to have. Without a sense of ethicality in the workplace there are many things that could go wrong. You could even end up losing a job because of a lack of ethics, or other consequences could be felt due to a lack of caring or morality. The workplace is a place that you should show respect and dignity, and a deeper sense of ethics is very important in order to uphold these senses of morality. Workplace ethics, which include such things as behavior, integrity, commitment, teamwork, and other things, are important, if not required, in most workplaces and can help to improve performance and morale for workers and employers.
Ethics are principles and moral, it is a way of governing the person behaviors and decision. Ethics help the person to decide whether actions and behaviors are good or bad right or wrong. Ethics is related to everything even business. Business ethics is set of principles related to the business environment. Recently, these principles considered to be one of the significant things that help in deciding how the business should deal with different situation. However, leaders are the controllable for having ethically business environment since they have greater influence on the employee behaviors, achievements and actions. Setting a clear set of business ethics which are moral, principles and rules should give the leaders a clear path on how they