Critical Thinking On ABC’s working environment

In a month’s time, ABC will publicly announce a project to build an adult entertainment retail store in an allocated neighborhood. This announcement will consequently cause a decrease in value of properties in the area. While this scenario presents an ethical dilemma to ABC employees, all are expected to act within ABC’s code of conduct with respect to business ethics and values.
Additional examination and instruction on issues of ethical conduct are aimed at increasing understanding and consciousness about ethical dilemmas faced within the work environment. Moral lenses ought to raise thoughtfulness about existing ethical issues. They provide a self-guiding mechanism for ethical decision making.
In order to make ethical decisions, it is important to consider different perspectives of reasoning. While decisions we make often rely on our character and virtues, ethical dilemmas primarily exist because our decisions have the ability to impact people negatively. The golden rule and virtue ethics are ethical lenses that provide guidance when faced with ethical dilemmas. Having insider information about the value of property surrounding ABC’s project area poses an ethical dilemma for ABC staff.
The golden rule states that one must treat others in a manner that they would want to be treated. This would necessitate a fair balance among all employees at ABC, a concept that empathizes with others and reiterates that reciprocity is essential for co-existence in society. While this rule brings a sense of equity, it fails to recognize the differences in circumstance, virtues, and values among individuals.
The golden rule offers consistency in any ethical dilemma. It necessitates a general standard of application regardless of the situation. Applying the golden rule requires one to visualize him or herself in the exact circumstances of the recipient of the action. This ethical lens implies that all individuals are worthy of justice and fairness.
In ABC’s working environment, the golden rule is a fundamental method of operation for the business. It emphasizes the commitment employees have to each other and the business as a whole. With the golden rule in mind, employees are expected to treat each other and the business in a manner that is not jeopardizing to either’s welfare. Consequently, employees also expect to be treated in such a manner that will not threaten their well-being.
In general, the golden rule is an essential call for uniformity in the treatment and respect of individuals. It reminds us not to put others in morally compromising scenarios because we anticipate they treat us in a similar manner if the situation is reversed. It is important to note that relationships in commerce (with regards to the golden rule) should be guided by consistency and respect. Therefore, the golden rule is critical as an unbiased instruction for managerial systems.
Unlike the golden rule, virtues ethics is an ethical code of conduct that develops standards and guidelines for business decisions based on character, values, virtue, and motivation. Using virtue ethics focuses on moral behavior which is not limited or constrained by rules but rather by individual rationality, the goal being moral excellence. This view of thought concentrates on the positivity or negativity of an action and or decision outcome and its effect not on the business but individual character.
Virtue ethics necessitates that professionals evaluate their decisions while within their role. It is contextual and dependent on the person and given situation and focuses on moral excellence as the primary goal of each decision. However, virtues can only be successfully applied to a business only if the incorporates such virtues in its day to day business practices. Therefore, character and virtue of employees within the workplace are largely dependent on the ethical norms held in the work environment.
The virtues in business ethics are usually desired qualities such as honesty and confidentiality. Employees applying virtue ethics are persuaded to make decisions that are in line with the character they aspire to emulate by exercising moral judgment. In this particular scenario, the ethical dilemma lies in keeping the company’s prospects and the consequences of those prospects confidential.
At ABC, ethical codes are guided towards moral correctness and not company benefits solely. With this in mind, employees facing ethical dilemmas ought to emulate practices encouraged within the company and place personal integrity above any types of benefits, material or otherwise.
Virtue ethics give an alternative for the basis of gauging morality in business forums. It nullifies the concept that businesses operate primarily on the basis of profit and loss and calls for a higher order of accountability. Using the golden rule in this situation would serve to shield other individuals from making decisions that go against their moral code of conduct. Employees should strive not to compromises personal integrity as it will downplay accountability and fairness in respect to the business and our clients.
Sincerely,