Introduction
Ethical behaviour can sometimes be tricky in its form; how a business carries itself can leave a good or bad impression on consumers and other production business associates. Most businesses are today interested in profits than anything else, thus failing to check on critical aspects such as ethics and social responsibility, consequently this is the reason for their downfall.
Evidently, companies that practice ethical values are incomparable to businesses that just want to make profit (Crystal, 2010). Implementing Business Ethics in a company’s strategic plan enhances the work environment. Additionally, it leaves benefits that include improved job satisfaction, a higher degree of organizational commitment and reduction of employee turnover.
Right things are not always easier to deal with since small quandaries in a firm are particularly the major challenges. Staff should know the right ethical act and the action to accept as appropriate form of promoting integrity and professionalism.
Importance of Ethical Responsibilities in the Business Setting
The benefits in practicing business ethics in the workplace are wide depending on the organizational culture and policies. Business ethics can lead to employee satisfaction, flexible work schedules and more responsibilities. Improved job satisfaction is a major benefit for boosting employees’ morale, in the aim of completing tasks correctly and in a timely manner.
Making sure the employees are happy can result in a more productive environment and the employee feels appreciated as opposed to over-worked. According to Carpenter and Sanders (2009), one solution could be a simple change of the work schedule to allow flexibility in the employees’ lives.
For example, giving employees the option to create their own schedules satisfies the employees, because they are able to balance time from their structured work.
Flexible working hours are a great start to increase employee satisfaction but it is not the only option. There are other strategies to boost employees’ loyalty and determination while increasing the turnover rates (Carpenter and Sanders, 2009).
Role of ethical standards in the workplace
The main reason to include ethical standards in a business plan is to enhance social responsibility for protection of company’s assets. How well do the employees protect their company’s assets? The treatment employees get highly influences their behaviours. The employees are usually proud of the company and its assets if the company accord they respect.
The opinions of the employees at the firm are evident from their behaviours at workplace. The employees’ pride blossoms when the environment delivers respect and the staff are valued as individuals and, treated with fairness and equity in general.
The employees need to perform with unquestionable ethics and integrity. Assigning responsibilities to employees and showing respect by praise or rewards them improves their efforts thus leading to job satisfaction, since they know that the management appreciate them.
Today the most damaging acts emerge from the most obvious ethical problems and irresponsible situations. The subversive acts employees practice in order to protect their own turf at the expense of colleagues affects the working relationships, environment, productivity, trust, and, job satisfaction.
Violations concerned with ethical standards are a high cost to company’s economical performance as well as, cultural reputation. When implementing a business strategic plan, the management of a firm must provide solutions to the small-scale problems. This involves an analysis to make ethics a core value in various departments, other than just having some code of ethics as an organizational culture.
Enhancing the ethics as core values involves setting up an executive tone in the policies or business ethics. This means that the leader has to lead by example (Carpenter and Sanders, 2009).
He/she adheres to the highest ethical standards or behaviours as a guide. Mistrusting and lapse over judgement of the leader causes the negative consequences to the company. Displaying a message that implies dishonesty as an acceptable act, is asking the subordinates to practice the act.
Secondly, it is important to have written guidelines in the strategic plan. This outlines the ethical policies for instance, a group can engage in a brainstorming session in translation or customization of general code of ethics to fit relevant aspects of the department. This code will serve as a helpful reference for the employees when they meet common ethical quandaries and thus enhance employees’ morale.
What holds together commitment in organizations? Employee involvement, motivation, and attitude are a few antidotes that contribute to the dedication of the organization. A higher degree of organizational commitment can result in dedicated commitment of the employees’, organizational structure and the factors involved in the commitment of the organization.
According to Hahn (2007), “The alteration of commitment is possible if people recognize its factors; personal characteristics, job-or role-related characteristics, structural attributes and work experiences.” This statement is true to its saying; treat people the way you would like them to treat you. A manager will thus respect and trust that employees will do what they are committed to do.
How a strategic plan influences personal ethical perspective
Can an ethical organizational structure influence the commitment of the employees’? Well, understanding that the culture and structure places employees’ on jobs so that work is completed and goals achieved. The structure of the organization influences the level of commitment.
Hahn states that (2007), “formalization, functional dependence, and decentralization are all related to commitment.” These factors affect the employees and therefore managers should consider personal attitudes, work experiences, and organizational characteristics by altering needs to improve commitment (Hahn, 2007).
Thirdly, it is important that the strategic plan communicate a leadership vision. The written code of ethics requires orientation and training programs through video, role-plays, games or other regular addresses in meetings, presentations and, speech. It is also important to enhance ethics of reporting the wrong acts. There ought to be an easy and safe way of reporting violations and questionable proceedings.
In line with Hahn (2007), “The employees should be in a position to deliver bad news to the management without the fear of negative career repercussions.” They also need to be reassured of immediate actions or investigations.
Several tasks can reduce employee turnover. Receiving employee feedback, applying attractive compensation packages and job stability will assure long-term ethical performance by existing employees.’ Carpenter and Sanders states (2009), “The business that neglects the feedback of its employees is doomed.”
According to research, employees who are involved in the day-to-day operations of their organization receive attractive compensation packages such as health benefits, and healthy work environments and this assures increase in company’s turnover and proper work ethics (Carpenter and Sanders, 2009).
Lastly, consequences of unethical behaviours ought to apply equally at all levels. A manager who violates the policies must face similar consequences as the level-one employee with a similar offence.
References
Carpenter, M. A., & Sanders, W. G. (2009). Strategic Management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall. Print.
Crystal, D. (2010). Managing Business Ethics. Retrieved from
Hahn, M (2007). Factors determining Organizational Commitment. ArticlesGratuits.com-Free Articles. Web.