Business Ethics and Social Responsibility PDF

What is Ethics? Ethics comes from the Greek word “ethos” which means custom, character, nature, and disposition. Ethics or moral philosophy are sets of principles that humans ought to do because that is what is “right” and/or “good”. It is a discipline that examines, develops, improves, recommends r...

What is Ethics? Ethics comes from the Greek word “ethos” which means custom, character, nature, and disposition. Ethics or moral philosophy are sets of principles that humans ought to do because that is what is “right” and/or “good”. It is a discipline that examines, develops, improves, recommends right or wrong behavior and judgment. https://www.examveda.com/ethics-is- derived-from-thegreek-word-30381/ Business Ethics- Ethics studies the rightness or wrongness of human behavior. Once this field examines ethical standards of business activities and principles and conducts of employees and business’ stakeholders interaction, then it is called business ethics. Business ethics are also known as corporate ethics or professional ethics is applied ethics as it explores the principles and conducts of the business organization, and how businesses act and react accordingly when facing problems that involve moral issues. Business ethics serves as the guiding principles of every organization that holds value to moral and ethical actions  Why Business Ethics is Important? There are lots of reasons why business ethics should businessmen put in their topmost priority. Among the most reasons is, the company is always aligned at the existing law that ensures the company against crime from employees, customers, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders. However, other advantages will also arise upon practicing business ethics in the work place. Businesses can build trust with other business partners and customers. People choose businesses that are truthful and honest. It brings a good relationship as people will be more comfortable to choose them over and over again. Some companies are using this strategy to have an edge over other competitors. If it is done wisely, probably, the company will have a good return. Why is a Code of Ethics Important? Every business must create a Code of Ethics that every employee should follow and live by their heart. This code will serve as their guide every time they need to make small and crucial decisions with regards to their work. This helps them to identify which one is an ethical action and which one is unethical. When there is a code of ethics, there is a supreme rule that will direct every employee in only one direction. Corporate Social Responsibility CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility is a mission of a firm to be involved and create an impact on the society’s welfare and interest in economical, social, and environmental aspects parallel to the goal of the organization. There are common business acts that are being practiced in every firm’s activity. Business practices are a set of governing rules that are being conducted to reach the goals of the firm. These rules guide the employees on how they should act and decide. It is expected that every employee must abide by the laws of the company accordingly. A. Decorum- is basically means good taste and appropriate propriety in both dress and conduct On-Time When we are in a business setting, we should always practice being punctual. It is one of the simplest forms of professionalism in the business world. Arrive at your office on or before your official time.  Respect the time of other people. When meeting someone, whether clients, managers or any important persons, always be prompt. Don’t let the other parties wait for you. Come to the meeting place 15-30 minutes before the time of the meeting. Make some allowances for the unexpected delays Confirm business appointments If you come on time to business meeting, making sure to finish the meeting on time, that shows also a sign of respect. On Preparation Make sure that all your files and pertinent documents are ready when presenting to clients or other parties. When conducting the interview, make sure that your questions are ready. Check your laptop or projector if it is functioning and do a dry run before the time of the meeting. Make sure that your battery is full when using gadgets in meetings and other events. On Agenda The executive should circulate the meeting agenda one week in advance. If you are one of the important persons in the meeting, inform the chairperson if you can not attend the meeting to make necessary adjustments on the date and time of the meeting. On Agenda The executive should circulate the meeting agenda one week in advance. If you are one of the important persons in the meeting, inform the chairperson if you can not attend the meeting to make necessary adjustments on the date and time of the meeting. On Attire and Appearance Dress appropriately in the workplace. Wear the proper dress code. If you are in the corporate industry, you must wear formal attire, but if you are in a manufacturing firm, usually they require a polo shirt and jeans. Wear also the proper uniform that the company issued to be easily recognized as the employee of the company. Always know the dress code when coming into work-related social events because we don’t want our company to be put to shame. By dressing properly, we show that we value our work and the reputable name of our company. As a head, you must always remind your personnel of the proper dress code in events you are attending to. Everybody must strictly follow the rules. It is better to give illustrations/ samples of attire the employees need to wear to have the same view on the proper dress code. Wear a conservative type of dress to earn respect from other people. On Decorum Always watch your words when speaking to someone. Maintain your composure even things are getting on your nerves. Never use foul or offending words because that is a sign of unprofessionalism. Spreading gossip and confidential information MUST be avoided because it will not create a harmonious environment. Avoid tapping on the table, chewing food or bubble gum or creating noise from your mouth, tapping your feet on the floor, playing with your swivel chair, yawning loudly, and other forms of destruction when conversing with a group or even individuals. On Basic Courtesy and Respect We should always consider the feelings of others when interacting with them. Remain courteous and respectful even in challenging times. If you are arguing with peers, stay on the topic, and do not get into a personal manner. Treat everyone with respect as much as we want to be respected, whether it is our superiors, peers, or subordinates. Be cautious with the words that you use and your environment to keep a harmonious relationship. On Greetings The usual way to greet someone is by shaking his hand and smile. Commonly, in formal situations, the first one to greet is the oldest or the most important person. In women that know each other very well, they greet normally by giving warm embrace and cheek to cheek. On Formal and Informal Address When it is your first time to meet someone, address him by his family name. In our country, we use “Mister” for men and “Mrs” for women who are married but it is always safe to use “Miss” if we do not know the civil status of a person. We must also know the title of the person we are talking to for us to address him/her correctly (titles such as Doctor, Attorney, Engineer, Architect, etc. ) Avoid calling a person in their first name unless they ask you to do so. On Speaking in Meetings Wait for your turn when you want to say something. Commonly, there is a designated time for question and answer portion, wait for this time if you want your queries to be clarified. It is a big NO to interrupt someone when they are talking or asking questions. Be still and compose even if you do not agree with someone’s comments/suggestions/ opinions. Do not raise your voice nor use foul language. On Listening Always take down notes to remember all of the important things that have been discussed in the meeting. Taking down notes also avoids repetition of questions that have been answered already. On Cell phones and Laptops Make it a habit to turn off your cell phone or put it into vibration mode even before the meeting starts. Excuse yourself once you receive phone calls and leave the meeting room to avoid destructions and disturbance. Do not also use your laptop unless it is needed in the meeting. On Business and Visiting Cards Always use your both hands in presenting the business card to a business client. On Break When having a meeting, give time to a break every two hours. During break time, it should last for at least 15-20 minutes while meal time is 30 minutes to 1 hour. On Appropriate Communication Always make sure to return call phone calls and emails. Always inform the person on the other line of your name, company name, and the department you are representing. Always speak politely. On Building Relationship Treat your employees with respect. Thoughtfulness is one of the keys to having a good relationship with them. Some companies give the cake to the birthday celebrant. Some give birthday allowance or birthday leave to show care to their employees. It is also better to take some time to visit and talk to your staffs even janitorial positions. B. Protocol Examples of Protocols in Philippine Business Filipino Family- Modelled Businesses- in some corporations, nepotism does exist where employers give more favors to their relatives to be employed in their company. Thus, it is very rare for them to be fired for being inefficient in the workplace unless a major mistake was done. Business is Personal –in the Philippines, it is easy to deal with your partners to be if you happen to be introduced by a friend related to the company you want to deal with. A personal approach is such a factor to make decisions and close a deal. So it is important to know the right people and their relationship with the company when doing business with others because the successful relationship is based on personal interaction and trust. Status-Consciousness – Filipinos need to be acknowledged by his/her title because we are status-conscious. For many, it is a way of showing respect to your business partner or soon to be partners. Politeness and Ambiguity – For us Filipinos, it is very difficult for us to say “no” to any business proposal because we value the culture of pakikisama and the importance of having a harmonious relationship with business partners and other entity related to our firm. Because we don’t want to offend or embarrass someone by saying no, we make excuses by saying “we’ll get back to you” maybe later” we’ll call you back”, Photo Credits to pinterest.com BDO corporation Modules printed in the Philippines by Department of Education-from Division of Pasig City