Unethical Behavior Unethical Behavior - It's Impact on Today's Workplace It is a sad truth that the employees of just about

every business, in every business, will occasionally encounter team members who are taking part in unethical behaviors. Such unethical behaviors include a wide variety of different activities. Among the most common unethical business behaviors of employees are making long-distance calls on business lines, duplicating software for use at home, falsifying the number of hours worked, or much more serious and illegal practices, such as embezzling money from the business, or falsifying business records. Though there is sometimes a difference between behaviors that are unethical and activities that are actually illegal, it is up to the business itself to decide how it deals with unethical behavior - legal or not. Issues from the User Forum: Unethical Behavior I turned my boss in for fee reversing on accounts in which whom she was employed for on the side and sending out unsigned wires. She also would pin atm cards for clients without them there leaving all the information in her hands ... < more >

Many employees find that discovering unethical behavior among co-workers actually tests their own values and ethical behaviors. After all, unethical behavior that is not illegal frequently falls in a grey area between right and wrong that make it difficult to decide what to do when it is Suggest a solution for this issue encountered. Furthermore, different people Post a question to other users have different views regarding what is ethical and what is unethical. For example, some people feel that it is alright to tell a little "white lie", or to make one long distance call on the company's nickel, as long as they can justify it in their mind.

When employees discover other employees doing something that they know is wrong by the company's standards, their own sense of what is right and what is wrong instantly comes into question. That employee needs to consider how s/he feels about that particular activity, as well as informing about that activity, or turning a blind eye. Even by deciding to do something about it, the employee who has discovered the unethical behavior is presented with a number of difficult choices. Should the employee speak to the individual directly, or should the employee head directly to a company supervisor? To make this decision a bit easier, many companies have adopted several techniques that allow for the management of unethical activities. The first step is to create a company policy, in writing, that is read and signed by each employee. This erases most feelings of ambiguity when it comes to deciding what to do after witnessing an unethical behavior.

The second is to give a clear outline of what is expected of the person who has discovered the unethical behavior. It should include the person who should be contacted, and how to go about doing it. With clear instructions, there will be less hesitation in reporting unethical activities, and then they can be dealt with quickly and relatively easily, before they develop into overwhelming issues. Furthermore, the repercussions of unethical behaviors should be clearly stated. This way, both the person doing the activity, and the witness to the activity will be well aware of the way that things will be dealt with, and there won't be any risk of someone not reporting unethical behavior because they're afraid that the culprit will be unfairly treated. Communication is key in the proper management of unethical behavior in today 's workplace. Ethical and Unethical Business Practices Business ethics is the most debated topic of our times. The difference between right and wrong business practices and their outcome is crucial for economic development. "I have always recognized that the object of business is to make money in an honorable manner. I have endeavored to remember that the object of life is to do good." - Peter Cooper, American Inventor, Manufacturer and Philanthropist Business ethics are moral values and principles, that determine our conduct in the business world. It refers to the commercial activities, either with other business houses or with a single customer. They can be applied to all aspects of business; from generation of an idea to its sale. Business use the society for its resources and functioning, thereby obligating it to the welfare of the society. While the objective of all business is to make profits, it should contribute to the interest of the society by ensuring fair practices. However, greed has led the present business scenario towards unethical business practices, legal complications and general mistrust. Code of Ethics Many organizations now implement the code of ethics in their company polices, which they implement during induction and regular training. A Code of Ethics "is generally a more blanket statement of values and beliefs that defines the organization or group" (Brandl and Maguire). It is primarily for the following areas:

Company's assets, funds and records Conflict of interest Management and employee practices Information on competition

Ethical Business Practices Following are a few ethical business practices that should be followed to build a honest reputation and ensure smooth running of the organization.

Investors: Ensuring safety of their money and timely payment of interest. Employees: Provision of fair opportunities in promotions and training, good working conditions and timely payment of salaries. Customer: Complete information of the service and product should be made available. Personal information of the customers should not be used for personal gain. Competition: Unscrupulous tactics and methods should be avoided while handling competitors. Government: Rules and regulations regarding taxes, duties, restrictive and monopolistic trade practices and unlawful activities like corruption and bribing should be adhered to. Environment: Polluting industries should ensure compliance with the government norms regarding air, water and noise pollution.

Unethical Business Practices The financial sector is abuzz with acts of violation of norms to amass wealth in an unethical manner. Following are some of the activities that come under the ambit of unethical practice.

Resorting to dishonesty, trickery or deception. Distortion of facts to mislead or confuse. Manipulating people emotionally by exploiting their vulnerabilities. Greed to amass excessive profit. Creation of false documents to show increased profits. Avoiding penalty or compensation for unlawful act. Lack of transparency and resistance to investigation. Harming the environment by exceeding the government prescribed norms for pollution. Invasion of privacy used as leverage, for obtaining personal or professional gains. Sexual discrimination

Business houses that comply with ethics to determine their conduct are shrinking in number. The lack of business ethics in the market, is the reason the world economy is presently in crisis. Organizations now recognize the positive effects and outcomes of being ethical, humane and considerate. They have a competitive edge in the market, because of the honesty they show in their services. Their morally upright reputation attracts better staff and helps in retention. Though ethics are legally binding in most cases, self-monitoring, transparency and accountability will go a long way in establishing trust of the people. Besides this, it makes sense to change, before you are penalized.

Have you ever given a thought as to why societies function? Why is it that since ages, human beings are able to live with each other peacefully? Yes, there have been certain incidences such as crimes and wars which do disturb the delicate fabric of the society once in a while, but still, on a whole, people have co-existed and survived for so many years. The main reason why humanity has survived for so long is due to certain rules, values, mores and ethics, which all of us abide by. Just imagine, what would happen if suddenly we were left without any sense of morality or values. In such a scenario, no doubt, chaos will prevail everywhere. Thus, ethics and values are the very foundations on which this society is standing. Same is the case in business. Organizations which follow certain business ethics have better chances of survival, compared to the ones whose only goal is to make profits, even if they have to compromise on a lot of things for that. So what is the importance of business ethics? How does it benefit the business? Lets find out... Importance of Business Ethics in Business Profit Maximization The importance of ethics in business can be understood by the fact that ethical businesses tend to make much more profits than the others. The reason for this is that customers of businesses which follow ethics are loyal and satisfied with the services and product offerings of such businesses. Let us take an example. Suppose, there is an organization named XYZ which manufactures cosmetics. XYZ greatly believes in the importance of business ethics. When XYZ advertises its cosmetics in the market, being an ethical organization, it will be very truthful and honest in its communication with the probable customers. It will tell correctly about the kind of ingredients it has used while manufacturing the cosmetics. It will not lie or exaggerate about the benefits or uses of its products either. So the customers who buy its cosmetics, know precisely what they are buying and how useful that product is going to be for them. This way, the

product will meet their expectations and thus, satisfy the customers. When customers are satisfied, they will become loyal to the company and come back again for re-purchasing. This will surely increase the profits of the organization. Thus, the importance of business ethics is that it creates loyalty in customers and maximizes the profits. Read more on ethical and unethical business practices. Efficient Utilization of Business Resources In an organization, people working at the junior levels often emulate the ones working at the top. The same applies with ethics too. If the management or seniors of an organization follow ethical business practices, i.e, they do not bribe to get their way or they do not cheat the customers, investors, suppliers, etc., the employees will follow suit. The employees too will refrain from using the office property or resources for personal benefits. This will result in better and efficient utilization of the business resources. Read more on workplace ethics. Creates Goodwill in the Market An organization, which is well known for its ethical practices, creates a goodwill for itself in the market. Investors or venture capitalists are more willing to put their money in the businesses which they can trust. Shareholders too, remain satisfied with the practices of an ethical businesses. Thus, the importance of business ethics in creating goodwill and building long term relationships, can not be denied. Also, an ethical business puts greater value on its employees and thus, employees remain loyal to such an organization too. The chief goal of any organization is to maximize its profits. The importance of business ethics can be understood from the fact that it helps the businesses in achieving its goal of profit making by creating goodwill for the business in the market, increasing its loyalty among the customers, by aiding in employee retention and by maximum utilization of its resources

Ethical Issues in Business There are a million ethical issues in today's businesses and unfortunately there is no perfect decision measurement for all these ethical issues in business. The ethical issues in international businesses are much more complicated and much more delicate, along with being tenfold in numbers. This article deals with the current ethical issues in businesses and attempts to look for ways in which one can tackle them. Economics suggests that business and production do not go hand in hand with environmental and societal ethics, due to the two being mutually

exclusive events. Why it is so, can form a subject matter of a thesis so will not be a debate matter for this particular article. This article though, discusses the various ethical issues in the business that affect all business workplaces, whether they are local or international. Let us have a look at the ethical issues in business, that are listed below in random order of importance. In business ethics, there is hardly a proper line which can be held on to like the bible, for ethics often sacrifice profits and the idea is to find the optimal balance between the two, so that the business conscience is clear and the profits are reasonable. Know more on ethics in workplace. In a Free, Unregulated Self-Ethics Model If business ethics and values are left to the self of business houses and entrepreneurs, society may have many dead weight losses to bear. A few producers can collectively skimp on supply to increase market prices, a few strong buyers may collectively reduce demand till prices fall and a single entity can capture the entire supply chain and refuse its services to the free market and reserve them for the best price. To top it, the labor market can unite and ask for unreasonable increases in wages and the public transport unions can stand up for price hikes. Who decides whether all this is reasonable and hence ethical, or unreasonable and thus unethical? Who says that an earner who earns lower than the minimum wages is entitled to a wage increase even by somewhat unethical measures that require some employer arm-twisting? Who decides that a person who already earns millions in profits is not entitled to reducing worker wages to earn higher margins because it is unethical? See what I mean, ethics change depending on which side you view them from. What may be absolutely right for you may be a gross injustice for me. So, if the market is left to its own individual mechanics, the most important ethical issue of all will be that all those in strong positions will always be the ones manipulating the weaker ones. This is where business ethics comes in as a self-regulatory mechanism on the stronger players in the economy. Let us now move on to certain routine ethical issues in business that almost every business have to face. Know more on workplace ethics training. Industry Wide Ethical Issues in Business Following is a list of industry wide ethical issues in businesses. The problem with these ethical issues in business is that they are not only really routine and frequent but they are also more wide-spread, i.e. throughout the whole industry rather then being confined to a particular business. Know more on creating a business code of ethics.

Bribing powerful officials in order to get bids and tenders accepted and bribing competitor employees to get informational leaks is a serious ethical issue in business. In fact, it is a crime that is legally punishable in most countries today.

Labor related issues like gender discrimination at workplace, employee harassment, minority community participation, working conditions and child labor are also some general ethical issues in business. Business practices like sourcing of materials, quality of inputs in production, compromising on certain aspects like product quality, safety, etc. and deception in packaging, quantity or size also fall in the purview of business ethics. Some industries consciously omit the details of the side effects of the usage of their products from the product packaging while some indulge in controversial practices like animal testing and these too are some of the ethical issues in businesses. Forcing labor to work at below minimum wages, sweatshop work conditions, violation of worker rights and not complying with health, safety and environmental standards are some common current ethical issues in business.

Company Specific Ethical Issues in Business Here are some company specific ethical issues in business. These ethical issues should be dealt with pretty strictly as to serve an example to the rest. Know more on is ethics important in business.

Showing honesty, integrity and openness in consumer relationships, addressing warranty and guarantee claims in an open and transparent manner and involving the company in some kind of social welfare causes is an ethical business practice that many are yet to follow. Whether to accept moral responsibility of on site mishaps, spills, leaks and disasters and whether to make product recalls if certain harmful information about them comes to light, are ethical issues that all businesses must be prepared for. Unethical business practices like dumping good at loss making prices just to earn market shares or to oust a new competitor from business, colluding with competitors to fix higher prices, using high pressure selling tactics, using deceptive advertising, etc. are also some things that need to be looked at.

Some stronger ethical issues in business are related to practices that are not easily detected, like releasing products that have built in obsolescence (to generate further demand for future products) and indulging in accounting manipulations to generate secret reserves or to show higher or lower profits as per convenience.

There are many many more ethical issues in business and some of them are so common that they even crop up on a daily basis. Making ethical choices is sometimes the hardest thing, especially when the one losing out is you or your business, yet, for the greater good and for the sake of differentiating humanity from animal kind, one has to look at business as well as personal ethics and evaluate them from time to time. For example, if all businesses just looked at current profits and production and ignored the call of the environment, the person losing out on all this is man and his society. Looking at all the ethical issues in business and finding the optimal solutions for them, by taking well-thought out and rational decisions based on all possible parameters will help everyone, the society, the consumer, the environment and more importantly, even the business.

Ethics At The Workplace - Work Ethics With changing workplace environment, it is necessary to change workplace ethics too! The behavioral rules that worked in the 20th century just won't work now. Here are the new commandments of ethics at the workplace. The workplace environment has really changed since the time our daddies (and some mommies) used to work in their cubbyholes. That was the time when people knew just a handful of people from their place of work, and a still fewer people were so close that they could be invited home for a dinner. But today, the workplace is more of a community center; there's a lot more going on in every office than mere work. And that is where ethics in the workplace become important. It is not enough to get in the good books of your employers, but it extremely imperative to be comfortable with colleagues and even the subordinates. Obviously, workplace ethics will differ from one employment location to another. However, there are some ground similarities that can be observed. Based on this, we can formulate some 'safe' rules that would work of almost every work ambiance. So here are the work ethics commandments. The First Commandment Thou shalt not criticize thy boss. This is one workplace ethic that has remained sacrosanct over the ages.

The boss is always right. Okay, he or she might be an insufferable lout, but as long as you are working with them, they are always right. The most judicious employee will remain good in the books of the employer. However, with changing times, bosses are becoming more accessible to their employees. Some of them even love taking inputs from their workers and improve their businesses. But, it is advisable to keep your mouth shut till asked. Another thing to avoid is maligning your boss and indulging in back-speak in the office cafeteria. The Second Commandment Thou shalt not rub thy colleagues the wrong way. Gone are the days when people were not even interested in what was going on in their next cubicle. Today, you cannot avoid befriending your colleagues at your workplace. Just be sure that you do not indulge in activities that create a bad impression of yourself on your colleagues. Folks at work can hamper your own prospects nowadays. Put in a genuine good word when they deserve it, and do not criticize when they err. That way you will never go wrong. The Third Commandment Thou shalt not comment on thy colleagues' personal affairs. Respect your colleagues' private space and they will respect yours. Do not read their personal chats over their shoulder and do not be interested in their mail that is directed to the workplace. Even if a colleague breaks out about their family affairs or romantic shenanigans with you, try not to be over-zealous in offering advice. Most probably, they do not want a nanny, they just want a set of ears to listen to their monkeyshines. The Fourth Commandment Thou shalt not compare thyself with thy colleagues. This breach of ethics in the workplace has happened ever since Cain and Abel started farming for their father Adam. In the machinery of your workplace, all employees are differently sized cogs in the wheel. Every one has been assigned a post in the company because of some unique talent. That means, you should not compare yourself with how others work. Dont ever begin cribbing with your employers when someone gets a promotion and you dont. It will certainly happen with you if you deserve it. The Fifth Commandment Thou shalt not be a nosey parker. In today's workplace environment, one of the biggest work ethics is to keep your nose stuck in your own affairs. Do not involve yourself in assignments meant for others, and never show off that you can do a particular job better than them. Instead, try excelling in the work assigned to you. If you show off your superiority to others, your colleagues will think of you as too pompous, and your boss might even reprimand you for not sticking with your own work.

The Sixth Commandment Thy attire shalt speak for itself. The workplace garb has changed drastically in recent times, and the Friday jeans have come into the weekdays too. But that doesnt mean you will dress up like a pantaloon to work. Keep your attire matching your status, and do not break the dress code of work, however flimsy it might be. It helps when you are dealing with outside clients. Keeping semiformal attire at least is the need of the day. The Seventh Commandment Thou shalt not bring thy family in thy workplace. It is ridiculous to speak about your family to your colleagues. Everyone has a family, and they are most interested in what happens with their folks, but it is nothing short of moronic to discuss your family woes at the workplace. An unwritten rule of workplace ethics is that you will never bring your family visiting your workplace, unless they are invited. The Eighth Commandment Thou shalt invite thy colleagues to thy homestead. You must keep your family out of the workplace as much as possible, but it is good work ethics to invite your colleagues over to dinner sometime. You can bond there and even do some constructive planning together. But, you must not jump in and invite everyone. Take your time, understand how friendly the people in your workplace are, and then subtly begin the invitations. It is, of course, understood that you should not have any vested interests in inviting your colleagues (or superiors) over. The Ninth Commandment Thou shalt take credit only where it is due, and shalt not be modest about it. When there's an appraisal, make sure your work gets noticed. Inform the right people that it is your work in advance, so that when the time comes, you get the nod. Do not be crass about it, though. A subtle approach is required to make your presence felt in the workplace. At the same time, you should always acknowledge your subordinates' good work, especially if they are creative people working for you. Creative minds work better when fed on praise. And that works both ways. The Tenth Commandment Thou shalt always keep thyself informed. The final rule of ethics in the workplace is to always be informed in what is going on in your business. It does not pay if you are the one always sitting mute below the corner in the front office, or if you are the one dozing shamelessly when a business talk is going on. People will think funny about you if you suddenly pop up and ask them what's going on. If you are informed about your workplace affairs, it will also help you to behave better and put up a generally good impression at the workplace. By Neil Valentine D'Silva

Top 10 Excuses for Not Going to Work Do you need an excuse that sounds real so that you can ditch work? Take a look at our top 10 excuses for not going to work; they actually do work. The most abused and sometimes the best excuse to take a day off from work is the classic case of bad cold. As it is the most violated alibi in the book, many of you steer clear of it whenever needed. However, I'm here to tell you that if you perform this excuse correctly, you could pull it off for real. Since people all across the world are familiar with this concept, to make your excuse seem believable, the entire excuse has to be premeditated. For instance, you just happened to have persistent headaches for 2 days straight, body pains a day before the diabolical plan to be absent and finally, no-show on the "big day". You can make a simple headache convincing if you put your creative mind into it. And that is what we have done to present you with not just 1 or 2, but top 10 excuses for not going to work. No matter what your reasons may be to skip work, apart from actually being sick, these top 10 excuses for not going to work will definitely yield to a satisfying day off. Top 10 Best Excuses Used to Call Out of Work Everywhere you go, people always keep giving advices on staying fit, exercising daily and getting in shape. While all those advices are important, faking a "sick day" can be difficult more now. So if you wanted to steer clear of this excuse, which you think may not work in your favor, here are our top 10 excuses for not going to work. Some of these excuses have been used for real (and have hit right on the mark) and some are complete work of fiction. It's your job to make these excuses to get out of work sound credible and make them work for you. Even though these excuses for skipping work are fun to use, as an honest employee, we should always follow workplace ethics. But just for the heck of it, let's forget it for sometime and see what these exciting excuses are. Excuse #1 I have the habit of setting half the clocks in my house at least an hour ahead. The other half of the clocks are an hour behind. So on Saturday, I spent 18 hours in some weird space-time continuum loop and I had to relive all of Sunday. I got out of the loop after I reversed the polarity of the main source of power. I had to reset all the clocks in my house along with tapping my dog on its snout with a newspaper. Therefore, I am going to be late, or early for work. Excuse #2 My husband/wife and I went to the Twin Cities to pick a friend up who was flying in from Ohio. The flight got delayed and it was really late by the time the plane landed. As I was supposed to work the next afternoon, everybody was exhausted and all I have to do is drive 4 more hours to

reach home. The reason I'm calling is to tell you that my truck's "brain" is out and now I can't come in for work till it is fixed. Excuse #3 My husband/wife had a court date. It was a rough time for both of us, as his/her ex was also present at the court. These past few days have been really trying for everyone in the house. So I would want you to be understanding and excuse me for not coming in for work today. Excuse #4 Last night I was in downtown Los Angeles (or any other city). There, I was mugged by a guy who took my purse/wallet and was running away. Then I ran towards my car and followed him. He didn't like that idea and broke my car's windshield with a bat. Excuse #5 I apologize that I have to send a message and can't tell you this personally, but I have a bit of a problem. Accidentally, I got the Q-tip's end stuck inside my ear. I am in the ambulance, on my way to the emergency room. Once the doctors get the Q-tip out of my ear, I will let you know how it went. Excuse #6 Call your boss or office and tell them: I fell down the back steps in my apartment/house. I think I have hurt my back very badly as I can't even get up. Can you please call my husband and tell him to come help me and take me to the hospital immediately. Excuse #7 Since I am living at home with my parents, I have to take care of the house till they come back from their vacation. So for the next 4 days, I have to go home early because my parents are out of town and I need to take care of their 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 4 birds. They don't like being left alone in the house. Excuse #8 I won't be able to come to work today. The thing is, yesterday, I was cleaning my shower. I think that the fumes from the strong cleaner are making me nauseous and I have been feeling very disoriented. Excuse #9 I can't come in today due to some personal reasons. Say it in a very concerned and serious tone of voice. It will definitely discourage any further questions from your boss' side, assuming he/she has even a grain of emotion. Excuse #10 Yesterday, I forgot to take the Sunday paper inside. So this morning when

I went outside to get the paper, I thought it was Sunday when I read the newspaper. By the time I figured it out that it is in fact Monday, it was too late. If you have plans for this weekend or would love to just relax with family and/or friends, instead of sending an excuse letter for not going to work, use any of our alibis for excuses to skip work. However, just a piece of warning, using any of these top 10 excuses for not going to work should only put to use if your boss has a sense of humor (or have some brownie points saved up). I am going to let you make that decision.

Confidentiality in the Workplace Maintaining confidentiality in the workplace is of utmost importance for modern organizations today to ensure that their customers, clients and employees can trust them. Read on to know how organizations today can keep up their confidentiality standards. Confidentiality in the workplace can be defined as keeping the employee, customer and client information private. Usually, it is seen that organizations take a number of steps to ensure that client information remains confidential but when it comes to employee information, they are not so much concerned. However, this thought process needs to be changed and the employers need to understand the importance of confidentiality in the workplace, only then they can can expect their staff to treat client and customer information with care. Read more on business ethics. Importance of Confidentiality in the Workplace It is the employee's responsibility to treat all the information that he comes across in the organization, pertaining to the the clients or the customers or about some issues in the organization itself, as private. Whatever an employee sees or hears at the workplace, should remain at the workplace and no information has to be given to any outside party, unless and until the employee has consulted and taken permission from his supervisor regarding the same. Read more on professionalism in the workplace. An employee should know what files or materials he is permitted to access in the office and he should adhere to that. Under no circumstances should the materials in the office be given to outside people. Also, employees should not discuss any business dealings with the clients, outside work. Otherwise, it is considered as a breach of confidentiality in the workplace and the employee may even be dismissed for it. Read more on ethics in the workplace.

As far as the employer is concerned, the data which is collected to hire, manage and pay the employees, should be kept well under wraps because if it falls in the wrong hands, it can be used to commit discrimination in the workplace or create any other violation. Maintaining confidentiality in the workplace is very important as not doing the same can sometimes cause huge financial losses to the business. It can even have many negative repercussions on the business's reputation as well. The client or the customer can file legal suits against the organization if they feel that some sensitive information regarding them have been revealed by the organization or its employees. So, it becomes very important for the employees as well as the organization to protect information in the workplace. Read more on workplace ethics. How to Maintain Confidentiality in the Workplace It is up to the human resources professionals to devise such strategies that will maintain confidentiality in the workplace. Here are some effective steps which can be taken to protect information. Read more on human resources management.

The human resources professionals should devise policies and develop such procedures which ensure that complete workplace confidentiality is maintained. The policies should cover their work as well, i.e protection of personnel and benefit records. Once the policies are devised, the next thing to do is to communicate the same to all the employees, supervisors and managers. Training them with regards to the confidentiality issues by giving them printouts of the policy or holding meetings and seminars in the office which teach the importance of confidentiality to the employees, should be done on a regular basis. Read more on communication in the workplace. It is very important that the employees know which actions of theirs will be considered as breach of confidentiality and what will be the consequences of the same, to deter them from doing so. With most of the information these days stored electronically, to ensure its safety, sophisticated electronic methods such as firewalls, password protection, encryption, etc. should be adopted. This will keep access, usage and transmission of the protected data, safe.

Disposing off sensitive information in the right manner, once it's no longer needed is equally important. The employer or the human resources personnel should do it in such a way that there are no potential leaks