Why Aren’t Business Ethics Ethical?
August 5th, 2010 by Joel D CanfieldWhile studying real estate I stumbled across the difference between business ethics, and ethics in the real world. They’re not necessarily the same.
Many industries, like real estate, have created a code of ethics for their members; a firm set of rules by which they must abide. And, as long as the follow those rules, they are officially ethical.
Thing is, two 6-year-olds on the playground know the difference between right and wrong, between fair and cheating. If your industry has a code of ethics, its purpose is not to provide loopholes, to let you get away with sleazy behaviour because it’s not officially sanctioned by the code of ethics.
Don’t ever misbehave just because there’s not a rule saying it’s wrong. Ask your 6-year-old. Or mine. They’ll tell you what’s fair.
August 6th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Absolutely true. Anyone, deeeply inside knows what is right and what is wrong. I`m sick and tired of people saying “there is no rule against this” or “sorry, I did not know this is wrong”.
Most business ethics are more like pirate codes – they are designed to protect the signers first, the business second, the consumers at last place, if any at all.
August 6th, 2010 at 8:02 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sue Canfield and Marcos Gaser, JABE. JABE said: Why aren't Business Ethics ethical? http://chiefvirtualofficer.com/blog/2010/08/05/why-arent-business-ethics-ethical/ #businessethics [...]
August 6th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Hah! Pirate codes! That’s exactly what I was thinking of, Marcos.
August 11th, 2010 at 7:39 am
It is part of the code of ethics of direct mail list marketers not to disclose their source. So, if you call up a company that sent you junk mail and ask, “Where did you get my name?”, they’re not supposed to tell you.
Who exactly does this protect?
Pirate codes indeed!