Managing Ethics in the Workplace

Abstract When ethics management is done right, it accomplishes more than just improving ethical behavior on some issues. Ethics management addresses the underlying root causes of unethical behavior. Since things that cause unethical behavior also constrain organizational performance, solving internal ethical issues directly benefits operating performance as well. Ethics, utility and successful human interaction is closely interrelated. In fact they are so closely interrelated it may be impossible to consider either one in isolation of …

…that most of the opponents of good ethics are focusing on short-term versus long-term results. Many organizations which have participated in the downsizing madness are beginning to realize that they have traded long-term employees' morale and productivity for short-term profit margins (C.C. Verschoor & J.J. Cahalanos, 1999).11 "What goes around, comes around", is the bottom line." If you treat your employees with distrust and disrespect, chances are they will do the same towards you.