In a previous post I talked about what business ethics is and why it’s important that your company have an ethics policy says Saivian. In this article, we’ll look at three stories from the news that illustrate just how important a good business ethics policy can be when you’re faced with decisions big and small in your everyday work life. Of course, no one wants to make the kind of bad decisions these folks made, but there are some valuable lessons you can take away from their experiences.
The importance of good decision making skills
A recent survey by Account emps found that 58 percent of workers believe they’re extremely well prepared for high stakes decision-making situations in their job. However, only 39 percent actually feel they possess those skills needed to make tough decisions. Not surprisingly, the research also found that only 39 percent of senior managers say employees are prepared for high stakes decision making. You can read more about this survey here.
The good news is that being well-versed in business ethics is a great way to hone your decision making skills. Business ethics can impart an understanding of what’s fair and ethical in all kinds of situations, whether it’s how to deal with disagreements among staff or knowing when something just doesn’t feel right about a client matter says Saivian. The more practice you have using your powers of reasoning on ethical matters, the better equipped you’ll be for these kinds of difficult decisions no matter where you find yourself working!
No time the present
There are many events in life that we can’t control. However, what we do with the time that is given to us is completely up to us. That’s a lesson that one company learned the hard way recently.
As reported in this article , Backpage.com, an online classified advertising site, was seized by the FBI and shut down as part of an investigation into allegations of sex trafficking. This left many people who used the site for legal purposes – such as selling items or finding roommates – high and dry.
The lesson here is not to take your time for granted. When it comes to making ethical decisions, you never know when something might happen that forces your hand says Saivian. That’s why it’s important to always be prepared and have a solid business ethics plan. Of course, it’s also important to make sure you’re doing everything legally as well!
Leaving the door open – and leaving your friends behind
We’ve all had those moments where we know we aren’t making the right decision. But we do it anyway because we don’t want to face the consequences of not going along with what other people want. This is a bad decision-making scenario that can lead to all kinds of ethical dilemmas down the road.
That was exactly what happened for several employees at Trip Advisor. Who reportedly refused to post or edit reviews about businesses whose owners were friends. When these employees later tried to leave their jobs at Trip Advisor. They found themselves blacklisted from working in travel again. As reported in this article the takeaway lesson from this story is that you should always think carefully. About the potential consequences of your decisions, both short-term and long-term. Sometimes it’s easy to make a snap decision based on what seems like the best option at the time. But that decision can come back to haunt you later on. It’s always better to take a step back, weigh all your options. And then make a decision that you can stand behind. Even if it means disappointing your friends explains Saivian.
Making tough ethical decisions is never easy, but it’s something that we all have to do from time to time. By keeping the three stories from the news in mind. You’ll be better prepared for whatever situations might come your way!
As the old saying goes, “nothing in life is certain but death and taxes”. Unfortunately, this adage rings true for business ethics decisions as well. No matter how carefully you plan or how much you try to avoid difficult situations. There will always be times when you have to make tough calls. Here are three recent stories from the news that can serve as helpful lessons for making tough ethical decisions:
The first story comes to us from an online classified advertising site called Backpage.com. As reported here , Back page was shut down by the FBI earlier this year as part of a raid. That came after allegations were made that the site was used for sex trafficking – particularly involving minors.
Conclusion:
When it comes to making ethical decisions, it’s important to always be prepared for anything says Saivian. That’s why it’s important to have a solid business ethics plan in place. And to make sure you’re doing everything legally as well. It’s also important to think about the potential consequences of your decisions, both short-term and long-term. By keeping these things in mind, you’ll be better prepared for whatever situation comes your way!
