This document discusses ethics and social responsibility. It defines key terms like morality and ethics. It outlines several ethical principles to consider like justice, individual rights, and utilitarianism. It discusses how ethics can differ across cultures and companies. It defines social responsibility as companies giving back to society and leaving things better than they found them. There are different types of social responsibility like traditional, stakeholder, and affirmative responsibility. The document provides examples of socially responsible companies and outlines an ethical decision making process.

1. Ethics and Social
Responsibility
Eric Vanderburg
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

2. Terms
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Morality – standards of behavior
Ethics – codified standards of behavior
Code of Ethics – set of ethical
guidelines stated by a company
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

3. Ethical Principles
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Justice – everyone is treated the same way
Individual rights – people have the right to make
their own choice, to truth, privacy, and safety
Utilitarianism – analyze advantages and
disadvantages and choose the one that provides
the most advantage for the most people
Individualism – what is best for me in the long-term
Virtue – will the decision support my values?
Categorical Imperative – what would happen if
everyone did this?
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

4. Rationalization
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If not specifically denied it is allowed
My company expects me to do
anything that benefits them no matter
what – they will support and praise me
It is too small to worry about
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

5. Ethics
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Are yours different at home & work?
Ethics differ across cultures
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Bribes
Copyright
Labor
Company loyalty
Ownership
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

6. Cultural differences
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Inner circle – members of the circle
are treated differently than outsiders
Future favors – every favor obligates
the other to return it in the future
Gift exchange
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

7. Social Responsibility
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Social Responsibility – the idea that it
is the responsibility of every person
and company to look out for their
society.
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Give back to society
Leave things better than when you found
them
Your role is to improve society
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

8. Types of Social Responsibility
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Traditional – responsibility only to
oneself
Stakeholder – improve the conditions
of those they interact with
Affirmative – should improve society in
general even if they do not interact
with certain entities
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

9. Elements
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Understanding the consequences of each
action
Having a caring attitude towards self and
others
Sense of control and competence
Recognition and acceptance of diversity
Recognition of basic human rights
Volunteering in social and community
activities
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

10. Business Social Responsibility
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Business Ethics Magazine – 100 best
corporate citizens of 2005
http://www.business-ethics.com/
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

11. Difficulties
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Choosing between options & hidden
agendas
Some acts may be misunderstood
Once started, cutting back is seen very
negatively – also sometimes it is never
seen as enough
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

12. Whistleblowing
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Whistleblowing – exposing the unethical
practices of one’s own company
Laws protect the whistleblower but many still
suffer from workplace social changes
Inter-company anonymous hotline can help
resolve issues internally without hurting the
tipper
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

13. Unethical corporate cultures
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Favoritism
Altering numbers
Fake expense sheets
Lies and manipulation
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

14. Ethical decision making process
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Is it legal?
Does it adhere to the company’s
values?
Will you feel guilty?
What if others knew you did this?
Do you see it as wrong?
Did you ask anyone else?
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005

15. Ethical decisions in
multicultural environments
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Be open minded
Know all the facts
What are the foreign principles behind
the situation?
Will acting ethically in this culture
violate ethical standards in your own?
Is there another solution that adheres
to both.
Human Relations – Eric Vanderburg ©2005