Abstract
Illegal immigration continues to draw many issues in the world today. It is worth noting that illegal immigration affects countries in various ways. As a matter of fact, illegal immigration is an unethical act from the beginning. Law guides business ethics in most cases, and on the same note provide the basic framework whereby businesses will choose to follow. In fact, hiring illegal immigrants affects business ethics in various ways. The controversy of hiring ethical issues and its effects in business ethics based on the fact that there are those who support illegal immigration while other are against hiring of illegal immigrants. Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business, economy, global relationship, communication and workplace productivity. Business may be legally operating but hiring illegal immigrants makes their entire operation unethical. Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics in the legal perspective. Child labor and underage employees continue to raise many concerns in society. Business ethics is compromised by many organization because of hiring illegal immigrants who are underage.
Illegal immigration continues to draw many issues in the world today. It is worth noting that illegal immigration affects countries in various ways. As a matter of fact, illegal immigration is an unethical act from the beginning. In most cases, employees continue to hire illegal immigrants based on the fact that they are paid low salaries and have minimum rights. Illegal immigration is breaking the law, and apart from breaking the law those illegal immigrants are committing an unethical act. The issue of illegal immigration raises a lot of ethical concerns in the country. In fact, hiring illegal immigrants affects business ethics in various ways. The controversy of hiring ethical issues and its effects in business ethics based on the fact that there are those who support illegal immigration while other are against hiring of illegal immigrants. Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business, economy, global relationship, communication and workplace productivity. In the general perspective, it is essential to comprehend that hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics.
In understanding the impacts of hiring illegal immigrants on business ethics begins from properly focusing on what business ethics entails. Business ethics entails relevant conduct that should be demonstrated in the organization. The focus of proper business practices and policies entail bribery, discrimination, fiduciary responsibilities, insider trading, as well as corporate social responsibility. Law guides business ethics in most cases, and on the same note provide the basic framework whereby businesses will choose to follow (Newton, 2008). Based on the analysis of business ethics, it is evident that illegal immigrants cause also of controversial issues on business ethics. Business ethics is mostly implemented in order to increase some level of trust between the employer, employees, consumers and other participants in the market businesses (Jennings, 2009). Illegal immigrants need to ensure that the relationship between them and various stakeholders in the business are within the standards of business.
The illegal immigrants in businesses want to be treated in a fair manner, yet at the same time they do not want the government of discovering their presence. The businesses and employers take advantage of the situation and deprive the illegal immigrants their rights and freedom. Business ethics concerns the moral judgments of individuals on what is right or wrong (Jennings, 2012). Business ethics on issues related to illegal immigrants can hinder the success and performance of the business. In the 21st century, diversity takes the center stage in every business and organization. These mean that hiring illegal immigrants could be advantageous because it enhances global diversity in business.
The law is the key for any business in the globe. On the same note, leading business in the world has their principles and standards that must be adhered to. Hiring of illegal immigrants have effects on business ethics since each of the employee must work and behave within he set standards. Business owners assert that hiring illegal immigrants work best for the business (Haines, 1999). These are because illegal immigrants take jobs that no citizen would have taken. Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics in the sense that the business will hire them so as to reduce consumer prices. The oppression of illegal immigrants brings out the concept of business ethics. It is wrong for business owners to take advantage of the illegal immigrants by paying them very low wages.
Business may be legally operating but hiring illegal immigrants makes their entire operation unethical. The ethical problem will continue for a long time if the main focus is based on the legal operation of businesses (Jennings, 2009). As a matter of fact, businesses and companies that hire illegal immigrants are not socially responsible. These are because they are violating their ethical responsibility.
Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics because the illegal immigrants are misuses. In fact, illegal immigrants are used in business as a tool to maintain low prices to consumers. Business owners claim that firing or being denied to hire illegal immigrants will lead to increase in consumer prices (LeMay, 2007). These are a clear indication that those hiring illegal immigrants take advantage of them. Immigration is making headlines based on the crackdown policies in some countries. The policies implemented tend to focus on the ethical and legal guidelines of hiring illegal immigrants. The most controversy is the fact that the immigrants are illegally in the county, yet they form part of the employee’s community.
As far as business ethics is concern, there are many illegal immigrants in the world. These as made the employees so relevant in ensuring that the working environment is good. Hiring illegal immigrants affects business ethics in the sense that the employers intentionally make the working environments too poor. They do so knowing that the illegal immigrants will tolerate the poor working conditions and the expense of not being reported. Hence, the occurrence of such activities leads to the development of unethical business activities (Miller, 2007). In the modern society, the government focuses on e-verification systems of employees. These are based on the various unethical practices and the hiring of illegal immigrants.
It is worth noting that the need to verify employees in the organization has led to various business ethical issues. The names presented to the government are false and these mean that the action undertaken by the government will be unethical. On the same note, hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics since it makes many people act against the law and irresponsibly (Yoshida, 2000). The ethical issues in business are compromised in the sense that those who benefit from hiring illegal immigrants try to hide the immigrants from the government.
Hiring illegal immigrants affects business ethics because the employers continue to pay lower wages to the undocumented individuals. Businesses and business owners are supposed to act ethically regardless of the conditions in the market (Treviño & Nelson, 2011). In addition, illegal immigrants take away jobs that the legal citizens would have benefited from; these bring out the aspects of business ethics. The citizens are supposed to benefit from the available jobs, but these do not happen.
The rate of unemployment in many nations in the world is tremendously increasing. The hiring of illegal immigrants increases the problem of unemployment since the illegal immigrants are not documented (Treviño & Nelson, 2011). Business ethics is affected in the sense that the nation is complaining of unemployment yet the illegal immigrants continue to take various jobs. Analytically, if illegal immigrants were not available, then businesses would be forced to increase the wages and ensure cleanliness and safety in the working place (Newton, 2008). Therefore, hiring illegal immigrants brings down the ethical concerns in the business.
Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics in the legal perspective. In the past, some nations such as the United States passed laws that allowed immigrant's legal status, but on the same note promised to tighten the border security to prevent illegal immigration. These has not taken place since businesses continue to demand illegal immigrants (Kenney, 2008). It is unethical for business to demand the illegal immigrants at the expense of the citizens. The law enforcement agency is also acting unethically because illegal immigrants continue to be part of business employees. The federal government has acted unethically in relation to various business activities and hiring of illegal immigrants.
Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics because the illegal immigrants are human beings who are looking for a way to survive. The aspects of hiring illegal immigrants are part of helping the needy in the society regardless of their race or origin. Those who view in these perspectives assert that businesses and employers are acting in an ethical manner (Hamington & Sander-Staudt, 2011). Corporate social responsibility is complex issue that require critical analysis. Businesses hiring illegal immigrants seem to be acting responsibly.
The constitution states clearly that hiring unauthorized aliens are unlawful. These mean that hiring of illegal immigrants is unlawful. It is worth noting that acting in an unlawful manner does not means the action is unethical. However in this case, business ethics is affected since business owners are well aware of the constitution but continue to hire (Levy, 2010). Disrespecting the constitution on the issue is an indication that business ethics is affected. It does not make sense for a business to focus on employing cheap labor at the expense of the law.
Child labor and underage employees continue to raise many concerns in society. Business ethics is compromised by many organization because of hiring illegal immigrants who are underage. The underage illegal immigrants are hired and opposed by the employers. Therefore, business ethics is affected because underage immigrant are hired and exposed to hazardous working conditions (Miller, 2007). It is morally and ethically wrong for businesses to hire underage immigrants. The business owners could not like their children to work in such conditions yet they expose underage illegal immigrants in such environment.
Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics based on the fact that it exposes the government to various risks. The obvious beneficiaries in hiring illegal immigrants are their stakeholders and the organizations hiring illegal immigrants. The government is constrained in meeting the medical and education services of illegal immigrants yet they do not pay taxes (Haines, 1999). There is no way the government will tax illegal immigrants yet they are working outside the law. The employers are forced to pay undocumented workers in cash to avoid the IRS. These are unethical business act that should be avoided. Business ethics is compromised since the employers know that the illegal immigrants are working against the law (LeMay, 2007). The illegal immigrants do not have social security number, passport or driving license.
For many decades, illegal immigrants are involved on criminal behaviors based on the fact that they are not easily identified. Those who are hired by companies commit crimes that affect the entire business (Jennings, 2012). The dishonest behaviors of the hired illegal immigrants affect business ethics. Business ethics depends on the behaviors and actions of the employees (Newton, 2008). In the case of hiring illegal immigrants, the ethics in business are compromised. The business that hire illegal immigrants could be protecting criminals from the law (Cross et al., 2012). Illegal immigrants commit crime and escape to their homeland country through the border.
Hiring of illegal immigrants is associated with human trafficking and other criminal activities. The stakeholder of illegal immigrants focuses on economic benefits without focusing on the ethics of their activities. Business ethics is affected by hiring illegal immigrants because it could entail hiring those who are victims of human trafficking (Yoshida, 2000). Business will be forced to be advocates of human trafficking, whether knowingly or unknowingly. It is unethical to compromise human trafficking yet it is one of the global threats.
Hiring of illegal immigration affects business ethics because it causes an imbalance in ethnic diversity and enhances dominance of one culture. Immigrants always encourage others to trespass the border to look for greener pastures. It brings out the issues of ethics because it enhances popularity of one culture in the business. On the same note, discrimination in business is also rampant due to the presence of illegal immigrants (Haines, 1999). The employers discriminate against the illegal immigrants. These are because they know that illegal immigrants are not in a position to form unions and fight for their rights. Ethically, business owners take advantage of the situation to exploit the illegal immigrants. The exploitation affects business ethics since it is unfair and immoral to take advantage of other people situation (Flynn, 2008). The exploitation is carried out through poor wages and poor working conditions.
Business ethics is a crucial concern in handling the customers. Hiring of illegal immigrants benefits the consumer because it leads to price decrease. On the other hand, business ethics is compromised. Hiring of illegal immigrants could lead to unethical service delivery. It is worth noting that illegal immigrants do not understand the business ethics and norms, especially on service delivery (Miller, 2007). Illegal immigrants come with their business culture and apply it in a foreign nation. The diversity of cultural beliefs and norms affects business ethics. For example, issues of dress code and workplace communication could be adversely affected. In the long run, the business ethics will be put at risk.
The humanitarian nature of employing illegal immigrants seem to be justified among businesses. The illegal immigrants focus on improving their standard of living, and hiring them is the only way to make them improve. The process of hiring illegal immigrants affect business ethics because the issue of humanitarians is overpowered by the condition the illegal immigrants (Miller & Cross, 2010). The illegal immigrants continue to live in poverty because costs and expenses incurred does not align with the wages received. The fact that they are paid very low wages means that they cannot afford to sustain themselves (Jennings, 2009). Therefore, an increase of human suffering affects business ethics. The country also faces high costs since hired illegal immigrants still demand education and healthcare. Taking advantage of the illegal immigrants affects the ethics of the business.
Business is always expected to comply with monetary and fiscal reporting, state and federal safety regulations, environmental laws, as well as applicability of civil rights laws. In the case of hiring illegal immigrants, most of these expectations are compromised. The business ethics is affected in the sense that businesses do not comply with government requirements Jennings, M. (2009).. The government expects organizations to conduct businesses in compliance with the law and business ethics. Those business hiring illegal immigrants go against the compliance and government issues. These raise a lot of ethical concerns in the business.
Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics since it influences decision making process. The ethical decision-making process entails protecting the rights of customers and employee, ensuring that business operations are just and fair, ensuring that individual values are protected, as well as protecting the common good (Hamington & Sander-Staudt, 2011). In the business that hire illegal immigrants, ethical decision making process is not achieved. The rights of the employees are not protected since they are illegally in the country. The employers and business take advantage and always make decisions that are unjust to illegal immigrants (Yoshida, 2000). In addition, the fundamental business ethics issues must always face trust and integrity. Hiring of illegal immigrants fails to meet the fundamental ethical issues in business. Business affairs are not carried out with integrity and honesty. Customers are well aware of business commitment to various business ethics practices, but hiring of illegal immigrants hinder the relationship and trust between the employees, employers, and the customers (Kenney, 2008). In the business perspective, lack of trust and honesty in the organization adversely affect performance and profitability of the business.
Diversity issues in the workplace form the basis of business ethics. As a matter of fact, diversity begins through hiring of a diverse individuals, which in these cases include the illegal immigrants. Hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics on issues related to enforcing equal opportunities and training programs, as well as ensuring that employees enjoy respectful working environment (Jennings, 2009). In this case, hired illegal immigrants do not enjoy the workplace environment but only work because of the problems they have. Adhering to business ethics is the key to the success of the business.
Business encourages dishonest conduct and influence the security and immigration policies for their own benefits. Studies show that the business is willing to bribe the government official dealing with immigration policies to allow the illegal immigrants into the country. The business is in need of cheap labor from illegal immigrants and can do anything possible to access them (Flynn, 2008). Bribing is an ethical act in business ethics; hence, hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics.
Hiring illegal immigrants is a good way of enhancing business ethics. In the modern society, the world has been converted into a goal village. These mean that the businesses need to embrace diversity in order to remain relevant and achieve competitive advantage (Levy, 2010). Hiring illegal immigrants boosts the ethical issues in the business. These are because employees tend to learn from each other and share ideas and skills.
Ethical issue of migration is based on humanitarian grounds. The illegal immigrants exist because of inhuman conditions in their home country. Businesses hiring illegal immigrants are acting ethically through helping immigrants secure jobs (Newton, 2008). Therefore, the business is acting ethically in trying to save a humanitarian situation.
In the general perspective, hiring of illegal immigrants affects business ethics in various ways. The focus of proper business practices and policies entail bribery, discrimination, fiduciary responsibilities, insider trading, as well as corporate social responsibility. Illegal immigration is breaking the law, but the employers take advantage to exploit the illegal immigrants. These are based on the fact that business pays low wages to illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants cannot fight for their rights because they fear the law. Business ethics is also compromised at the expense of cheap labor. Issue of bribing, discrimination, breaking of the law, and not being socially responsible raise also of the ethical issue in business. Therefore, hiring of illegal immigrants affect business ethics.
References
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