Ethics and Diversity

The issue of ethics in the workplace is a major issue in the world today. Televisions broadcasted headlines of the unethical behavior involving Martha Stewart and the Enron controversy for weeks, and if that was not enough, Don Imus kept the world talking when he racially disrespected a group of African American women basketball players on his nationally syndicated radio show last year. All of these situations left people with questions and discussions which all revolved around the topic of what ethics is and the importance of ethical behavior. Ethics is defined as the system of rules that governs the ordering of values Bateman and Snell (7th edition, 2007). Ethical issues are one’s that must be evaluated on the basis of what is morally right and wrong,

Many companies, such as Norfolk Southern Railroad Company develop ethics and compliance rules that they follow and make their employees follow on a daily basis. Charles Wick Moorman, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern Railroad Company recently enforced a Code of Core Values that includes safety, performance, integrity, respect, innovation and teamwork which he expressed all work in building an ethical work environment for his employees, customers, stockholders, and communities that Norfolk serves. Moorman states “Following Our Creed enables us to reach Our Vision of being the safest, most customer-focused and successful transportation company in the world (http://ethics.nscorp.com). Codes of Ethics provide Norfolk Southern Railroad Company with an understanding not only to the customers but to the employees of how one is expected to conduct themselves. These codes of ethics are important because it allows for everyone to take responsibility for the way they are acting in the workplace, and not only doing what the code of ethics enforces, but understanding them and living them in everyday life. Conduct drives reputation and a company’s reputation takes years to build, but seconds to lose, so understanding the codes of ethics is tremendously important to the company as a whole as well as the people who work for it. Ethics impact management and its functions because one cannot succeed in business without enforcing a code of ethics in the workplace.

Diversity, like ethics is extremely important in the business world today. Diversity is generally defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status (Esty, et al., 1995). Diversity is not only important to employers, but respecting diversity in the workplace improves productivity and employee relationships. Diversity in the workplace can reduce lawsuits and increase marketing opportunities, recruitment, creativity, and business