Ethical Beliefs and Business

To develop good ethics in the work environment today, one must first look at ethics as a whole. Ethical beliefs and business very rarely mix. Business must protect the bottom line. Profit is the sole driving force behind any successful business. The Power of Ethical Management, Authors Kenneth Blanchard and Norman Vincent Peale put forth questions that you should ask yourself when you are faced with an ethical dilemma regarding any action that you are considering: Is it legal? Will you be violating any laws by taking this action? Is it balanced? Is it fair to all parties concerned both in the long and short terms? Would you be happy with this action if you were in the other party's shoes? Is it right? Are you proud of yourself for the course of action you are taking? Would you be proud to let others know of your decision? They also discuss the company ethics only apply to its product. Is it Safe? Are employees being treated fairly? You will find ethics vary from company to company but the question still remains is this ethical correct.

The Miniature Guide to Ethical Reasoning (Paul and Elder, 2003) states, “Human behavior has consequences for the welfare of others. We are capable of acting toward others in such a way as to increase or decrease the quality of their lives.” The behavior of an employer has much further reaching effects, as they are dealing with large numbers of individuals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a series of laws and guidelines that seek to regulate employers’