Sample Essay On Ethical Dilemmas In The Corporate World

Corporations are frequently faced with ethical dilemmas in today’s modern world. Mukta Gaikwad (2011) discusses some of these common issues. When a new position opens in the company, employees are the first to know and spread word to their friends and family. While they may be qualified for the job, this leads to nepotism and can become damaging to the management structure. Abusing work ethics by asking employees to stay late, come in on holidays, or fining employees for missing a deadline can tarnish the relationship between you and your employees. Allowing employees to break rules in order to meet deadlines may seem like a good idea for business, but it’s a slippery slope that demonstrates to other employees inappropriate work habits that can lead to legal battles.
What may be good for profits may not be good for business. As a leader, we must take several factors into account, such as company structure, employee fulfillment, customer satisfaction, code and conduct, etc. One way to remain ethical is to consider the following traits (Institute, 2012): Am I being honest and truthful? Am I being responsible and accountable for my choices? Are my decisions fair and unbiased? Am I being mindful and considerate of others? Do my choices show I am empathetic and caring?
Personally, I am confident that I can make ethical choices. I feel that my choices are fair and balance the future of the business with the integrity of the company. To be sure that my judgments aren’t conflicted by emotions, I would prefer to solve ethical dilemmas with the council of my respected colleges. This is why companies have a Board of Directors or management meetings; so the opinions of many could be carefully reflected in the decision making process. Otherwise “When people feel that they are reasoning to a moral conclusion, often times they are simply trying to develop rationalizations for conclusions that their minds’ System One has already intuitively reached” (Prentice, 2014, p. 13).

References

Gaikwad, M. (2011, April 25). Ethical Dilemmas in Business. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ethical-dilemmas-in-business.html
Prentice, R. A. (2014, February 2). Teaching Behavioral Ethics. Journal of Legal Studies Education, Forthcoming. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2389689
The Institute of Internal Auditors. (2012, May 1). Tone at the Top: Ethical Dilemmas. Retrieved January 19, 2015, from http://www.corporatecomplianceinsights.com/tone-at-the-top-ethical-dilemmas/