“It’s the old snake oil routine. Find out what people are worried about, sell them anything, and call it a cure. A certain number will get better, because faith heals. They’ll attribute their better health to the snake oil and others will buy.

I’m not saying all former business was a matter of fraud. Many people in any age gave honest goods for the money they charged. Farmers sold milk and butter and eggs and vegetables in town. Carpenters built houses and stores. Bakers threw in a thirteenth roll when you bought a dozen, still do sometimes. But somewhere along the way a two-by-four got shaved back to 1½ inches. And you can’t find a pair of cotton knee lengths anywhere in the mall.

All in all, throughout the industrial world, life has been a bit of a scramble, with winners and losers. Two things are true about that. One, some people haven’t worked as smart as others. Two, smart entrepreneurs deserve the money they make. Anyhow, before the industrial age was even a teenager, there were new levels of rich and poor. I suppose if you didn’t believe you had anything worthy to sell, you might decide upon trickery. Mark Twain used to love to write stories about how a couple of swindlers came into town and found enough fools to make a killing before the town caught on. But I can’t think the swindlers had any kind of a life, always having to move on before the sheriff came to find them. No friends, no community, no trust, no truth, no salvation.

It may have been Carl Sandburg, Chicago’s wry poet, who said, “”Only the rich can afford salvation.”" The poor seem to have to give up their ethics in trade for the barest survival. An example would be a young woman such as Moll Flanders, raised in an orphanage and surviving as a prostitute. Or any number of Dickens’ characters.

Are there, on the internet today, snake oil salesmen, swindlers, and forms of prostitution such as viruses, identity theft, and a host of scams? We know there are. These shady activities have grown from the seeds of the weeds our ancestors sowed, one of which was the idea you had to lie and be tricky to make it.

You and I have choices Moll Flanders and The Artful Dodger didn’t have. When I consider the careers of Kendall Summerhawk, Susan Liddy, Jeff Johnson—none of whom are paying me a cent to mention their names—when I watch how successful internet entrepreneurs turn around and offer a helping hand to anyone who wants to make it on the internet, it makes me downright cheerful. I know success comes with ethics, truth, and spirit.

Article by Patricia Lapidus, author of the memoir SWEET POTATO SUPPERS: A Yankee Woman Finds Salvation in a Hippie Village. Patricia is a writer, editor, teacher, and an encourager. Up coming books include SWAMP WALKING WOMAN, a mythic fairy tale about women’s strength, and GIDEON’S RIVER, a novel dedicated to all who live with a temper, their own or someone else’s. Note: SWEET POTATO SUPPERS is due out soon in a second edition. This memoir is for those interested in communities, in spiritual hippies, and in the personal journey of discovery.

Patricia is widely read in literature and the social sciences.

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Tags: ethical, work, issues, behaviour, practice

“It seems that Ethics is a growth industry. There are even advertisements in the newspapers for “”professional ethicists”".

Does this mean that we are getting more ethical? Are we at the place of which Plato dreamed, where “”kings are philosophers and philosophers are kings”".

Alas, the opposite seems to be true. The fact that so-called “”experts”" have to be employed to say what is ethical is just one sign that many people are increasingly incapable of telling right from wrong for themselves.

Indeed, the “”professional ethicists”" are not really concerned with moral right and wrong. Rather they are a junior branch of the legal profession. Many sectors, especially those related to medicine and human services, now have “”codes of ethics”" or “”codes of conduct”". A breach of these codes may have legal consequences. The purpose of the “”professional ethicist”" is to give a degree of protection from those legal consequences. Surely this is the very opposite of ethics.

The last century has seen an enormous expansion in the scope of the law in most jurisdictions. Activities which were previously left up to individual conscience are now regulated by the state.
This is particularly true of business.

Yet it has not made business more honest. To rely on force rather than conscience to get people to do what is right is to undermine conscience. When people are forced, rather than persuaded, they will do what they are forced to do and no more. They will feel no sense of obligation.

More and more, the business world is filled with people who are governed by the principle of “”what can we get away with”", rather than by what is right.

It was not always so. We must not be so naive as to imagine that there was ever a Golden Age when everyone was always honest – but things certainly used to be better than they are today.
Previous generations were less likely to see a conflict between doing what was morally right and doing what was in their own best interests.

Partly this was due to the greater emphasis that was placed on Reputation in those days. Business communities tended to be smaller, either because they were geographically isolated or because there might be a small number of specialists in very close correspondence. If a man did anything dishonest, it would soon be known by everyone and his chances of remaining in business would be negligible. Today, the global market is so big that it is unlikely that everyone will hear if someone has a bad reputation.
Mainly, however, it was because business communities usually had shared religious values.

Max Weber described the “”Protestant Work Ethic”". The same principle which encouraged people to work hard to succeed in business – a desire to please God – also imposed strict honesty on those business dealings. Protestant devotional works sometimes recommend standards that seem laughable today – like not taking advantage of information that was unknown to the other party in a deal and not charging market price where the profit is excessive. Yet the people who read those works often became very wealthy, not least because they had a reputation for fair dealing.

In the same way, Jewish bankers were able to do business, even if the face of virulent Anti-Semitism, because they built a reputation for scrupulous honesty. This only irritated the Anti-Semites even more.

Even today, an entrepreneur is better off if he deals with someone who is concerned about his reputation for honesty – and who possibly believes that there is an Accounting beyond the balance sheets of this life – than relying on any number of laws and regulations and artificial codes for protection.

Guy Kingston produces and presents the Mind Your Own Business podcast, offering free business advice to entrepreneurs and business owners. As well as audio podcasts there are more articles like this, compelling videos and a must-read blog. All at http://www.myobpod.com or you can network and join in discussions on the MYOB Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12117784275).

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Tags: professional, ethics, code, conduct, work

Recently, I had a gathering with a group of friends. We talked about everything and somehow we ended up talking about employment. Some of them were working in the company still. However, they are worried that they will be the next one to be on the retrenching list.

Suddenly, one of the friends mentioned, he was one of the unlucky ones that was in the retrenching list.

And I asked him, “Did the company compensate you?” He said, “No” in a very disappointed and full of fury. I asked him, “Why not?” He then told me the story.

The company is not running any profits for the last 2 financial quarters. In order to meet the company target quota, the management decided to cut costs or reduce the operating expense. Thus the department head is trying ways and means to reduce the operating cost.

There is a company’s Human Resource policy guideline that states Work Improvement Program (WIP) is to issue to staff prior firing the staffs. This gives the department head some leeway to streamline the staff’s performance. In the name of the staff’s performance, the department head is trying to make use of this WIP to reduce their headcount strength.

How does this WIP work? It is a Work Improvement Program (WIP) that initiated to the staff.

If staff is found to be under performing, the department will have the right to issue the WIP to the under-performing staff. The staff will then have to prove to the management that he or she is not under-performing within a short time frame. The timeframe could last within 1 month to 3 months. Each time, the under performer will have to report his status to his superior. After the timeframe, management will decide on the working performance. If the under-performer does not meet the requirement, he will then be terminated.

The management’s intention is to reduce operating cost. Chances are the management will not be happy with the staff’s performance. Thus there are 2 choices for the staff to make before taking up the WIP.

One is to go through the WIP and let the management decide your performance. Chances are the management will not be happy with your performance. The other option is to tender your resignation letter prior taking up the WIP. This will save both parties energies to go through the hassle.

Although the company has already given ample notice period to improve the performance, the staffs know the answer. However, the staffs know that no matter what options he takes. The ultimate result is to reduce his headcount in the company. This will indirect save the company from compensating the staffs. Indirectly it is a retrenching action but is not immediate.

This was a hard lesson learned by my friend. He was sad and disappointed. He tenders his resignation letter and served his notice period till the end. He is reluctant to resign but the financial crisis push the company to go into such move in retrenching staffs without any compensation.

For more information, please check my website

Dennis Kwan is a trainer, speaker, author, a volunteer at Changi prison and also a Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner, Hypno-Therapist, Time-line Practitioner. He graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce. He is also certified in Project Management Professional (PMP), Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

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Tags: ethical, work, issues, behaviour, practice

Many people worldwide want to transform their finances and business. Many people want to be wealthy. Many people dream of a successful business. What is the true reason for business success?

I received this divine teaching: True success in business and finances is a blessing from Heaven. Why do some people have tremendous success in finances and business? Why do others have little success in finances and business? Why are some people never successful in finances and business? The true reason is the spiritual reason. Like so much else in our present lives, success in finances and business is related to our previous lives.

If you served humanity and Mother Earth exceptionally well in previous lives, Heaven and the Divine will reward you in this lifetime. If you offered good service to humanity and Mother Earth, you will receive a good reward in this life through your finances and business. If you harmed humanity in previous lives, you could have no financial or business success in this life.

About twenty years ago, I saw a billionaire. The Akashic Records showed me that in his next life he would be a beggar. I was very shocked to see such an image and to receive that message. I asked the Akashic Records, “Why? This person is so famous in this life. Why do you show me that he will be a beggar in his next life?” The answer was that this man owned one huge company whose products were very harmful to one’s health. Literally millions of people were harmed by this company. Therefore, he will have to learn a great lesson in his next life.

Then I asked the Akashic Records why this person was so successful and wealthy in this life. They told me that he had served humanity very well over his previous fifty-two lifetimes. He had been very kind. He had been the compassionate leader of a country. He had been a spiritual leader. He had been a wealthy person who was very generous, serving the poor and many others. Because of his previous fifty-two lifetimes of great service to humanity and Mother Earth, he was rewarded in this life through his finances and business.

I was really shocked by this teaching. I was shocked to see these spiritual images. I was deeply appreciative of this knowledge. When I received this information, I also heard one sentence from the Akashic Records, which I already knew: Heaven is most fair.

After I highly developed my spiritual abilities and learned more and more advanced spiritual wisdom from my spiritual fathers, Heaven, and the Divine, I received a very special teaching about finances that I would like to share with you.

In the physical world, human beings use money for exchange. Whether you buy a house, travel, or eat, you need to spend money to exchange for these things and services. When you work for a company, you are paid a salary. Money is the exchange for your work. You need money to support your family. If you run a business, you need money to support your employees and to expand your business. Money has vital physical value in life.

In the spiritual world, is there spiritual money that spiritual beings use for exchange? Yes! What is money in the spiritual world? It is virtue. Good virtue is expressed in dots and flowers of different colors-red, golden, rainbow, and more. This good virtue is recorded on your soul and in your book in the Akashic Records.

The secret I want to reveal is that physical money and spiritual money can exchange. In other words, money in the physical world and virtue in the spiritual world can exchange. Physical money is deposited and stored in a bank. Virtue is deposited and stored in the Akashic Records. If you have good virtue, which is a record of your good services in all of your lifetimes-including love, care, compassion, kindness, generosity, integrity, and service to the poor, the hungry, the sick, your family, and others-this good virtue can be transformed into money in the physical world.

People who are very wealthy in this life are wealthy because they served humanity and Mother Earth very well in past lifetimes. This is the true reason. Not every wealthy person was rich from birth. Quite a few wealthy persons worked very hard to gain wealth. But it is very important knowledge to realize that no matter how hard you work, no matter how good your planning, marketing, and organizing are, no matter how high-quality your products are; you must not forget that Heaven must bless your success. Heaven blesses you if you have good virtue from past lifetimes.

Many people work very hard. Not all of them are financially successful. Many of them face constant challenges, one after another. Some of them may be very successful, but then next year, their business could fail. Business is a complicated issue.

To be successful in business, you must understand that business success is directly related to your past lives and your present life.

Dr. Sha was trained as a Western medical doctor and a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. He is a grandmaster of many ancient disciplines, including tai chi, qi gong, feng shui, and the I Ching. He is the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of Power Healing, Soul Mind Body Medicine, Soul Communication, Soul Wisdom and his new book The Power of the Soul.

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Tags: ethical, theory, business, work, behaviour

Success gained through greedy behaviour (greed is an excessive and selfish desire to acquire or possess more than what one deserves) is normally not sustainable. Over the years we (unfortunately) witnessed many incidences of greed that eventually turned sour. This case study highlights some of the dangers and consequences of uncontrolled greed.

The discussion is done under the following headings:

* Making a quick buck;
* Scheming;
* Fraudulent behaviour.

Making a Quick Buck

Greedy business people often belief that they can (and should) make a quick buck when the opportunity arises. One method that they often use is to inflate profit margins. This is especially done in times of shortages or with new clients.

One of the suppliers of raw materials to many of our manufacturing clients had a reputation of taking new clients for a ride. When an important product was in short supply this company decided to inflate the price to around 30% higher than the market price. Their clients had no option and buy from them.

This strategy did, however, prove to be very shortsighted. One of our clients and another manufacturer were not pleased with the situation (to put it mildly). Both of them explored the international markets and they then built direct relationships with the suppliers (of many raw materials). The extra profits that the greedy supplier made turned out to be his last. The market turned against him and rather bought from the more honest suppliers at stable prices.

Schemes

Some greedy operators are excellent schemers. They would work out schemes where they normally have little or no risk compared to their “victims”. They often have nothing substantial in their own personal make-up and experience. Most of their “victims” also tend to act on greed. Unfortunately many of them cannot afford to lose their life-savings, homes, etc. in these schemes. Some of these schemes (especially pyramid schemes) are totally fraudulent.

We have met many greedy schemers over the years. One that stands out is a serial schemer that caused many harm over the years (also towards himself and his family). His schemes are, however, (almost) legal. He would typically create a business plan that seems fantastic. For this he would do his homework and with much passion and hype he would sell his idea to unsuspecting partners. They would eventually learn that his ideas were not really that practical, that figures were totally inflated, that his knowledge were superficial and that many of his assumptions and claims were outright lies.

Although the above mentioned culprit has not done anything (yet) that can take away his freedom he has lost many excellent opportunities in his chosen fields. Some of his more experienced and financially sound partners were prepared to walk the extra mile with him. They have now lost their respect for him. In the business world (that is smaller than what most people think) his name has also been severely tarnished. I would imagine that his self-respect must also be rock bottom by now.

Fraudulent Behaviour

Many greedy operators would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They would forever push the envelope. In the beginning they would probably get away with something small, then graduate to more serious “offenses” until it spiral out of control.

Our company worked with a few people many years ago. They were responsible for their company’s procurement. We initially had an excellent relationship. Then we started to feel uncomfortable about some subtle remarks that they made in friendly conversations – they hinted on receiving kickbacks. When these comments increased we stopped doing business with them.

These guys went ahead and formed fronting companies for some of their activities. They also embarked on mutual-beneficial relationships with some of their big suppliers. Kickbacks were used extensively. This behaviour continued over many years. Many people were aware of it, but were too afraid to do something (due to the influence and threatening behaviour of the perpetrators).

Eventually a new senior director was appointed in the company. He took it upon himself to clear the company of corruption and request a detailed forensic audit. All of the culprits (including the suppliers) are currently being charged for fraud, theft, corruption and racketeering. The asset-forfeiting unit is also on their trail and their company started civil proceedings against them. At a time where these people would normally think of retirement they are now faced with public humiliation, financial ruin and long jail sentences. Their families are also severely traumatised.

Summary

We live in a world where money is being seen as success. Many people are not prepared to do what it takes to be financially successful – hard and smart work (and probably a bit of luck too). They want instant gratification and take short-cuts. It often starts out small and then snowball into gigantic proportions. Eventually success that is attained through greed tends to be hollow, not sustainable and it can have grave consequences.

Copyright© 2009 – Wim Venter

Wim Venter is the CEO of Ventex Corporation, a business development consultancy. To receive more information on how to start a new venture, to grow it sustainably and to finally harvest it successfully, sign up for our free newsletters or contact us via our website.

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Tags: ethics, work, business, moral, code

Out with the old! In this new paradigm, the only way to make a dime is by giving talent and time. Today’s successful people focus on caring and service. The paramount concern in today’s business life looks at being in service for the greatest good of all concerned.

Rather than worrying about the competition, today’s business people see that servicing 5% of their niche makes them a good living. They do not need to hog the entire 100%. Everyone who provides an honest and ethical service or product gets an honest piece of the whole. The new thought form is, “There is enough to go around.”

There really is, you know, enough for each to enjoy their share without depriving others.

Let’s clean up the mess of failed businesses and life. Let’s take the knife of creation and sculpt a new world. We can detail it with love. Fill it with abundance that comes from above.

Bless everyone you meet. Bless everything you see. Bless all you do to make this a better world complete with love, caring, and sharing.

We can make life about giving and receiving. No keeping score. No deprivation. No hoarding. Did you ever notice those who keep their possessions for themselves, seem to experience the greatest fear of loss? Interesting, how that works. Those people will never have enough of what they fear losing. Never.

I do need to clarify one point. Many people really cannot take care of themselves. I believe in assisting them. However, I believe it is a rare person who cannot contribute something in return. For instance, some people are terrific at smiling. They lighten your heart just by smiling. Some people are great listeners. Some people can clean and wax a floor better than just about anyone.

Every person possesses a unique gift and talent. I do not believe in handouts. I think handouts keep people stuck. I believe in showing people a way to share their unique gift and talent to contribute so others may benefit.

People are social creatures. Let’s all make this world a great place to live together.

The bottom line is only you can change your life…when you are ready to do so. Change comes from within. Knowing the programs running your subconscious mind allows you to override what does not work and replace it with programs that do work. Discover the basics of conscious living in Ali Bierman’s ebook What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know Runs You. Grab your complimentary copy now at http://creatingthelife.com/ebook.html

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Tags: ethics, work, responsibility, new, paradigm

First, a definition of Ethics: principles of human duty, rules of conduct and the duty of being honorable . Simply put: Being ethical is doing the right thing.

Much is said about Ethics and we all agree we have them. But just what is “them?” Lets tackle the business ethics first for it is simple and straight forward. The problem comes when you are asked by your supervisor to do something that you are not sure if it is the right thing to do.

There are two parts to the business ethical question:

What to do when you are asked to do something, would your action be ethical?
When you personally have to make decisions: How do you make them ethically?

Following Orders

This part is simple. You must understand your loyalties:

Be loyal to yourself.

Next, be loyal to the company

And finally, be loyal to your supervisor.

Remember the sequence: Yourself, the company and then your supervisor.

Texas Instruments has a simple three-step rule to follow if you question the ethical merits of a directive:

If you know it is wrong, simply don’t do it.

If you are not sure, ask.

Keep asking until you get an answer.

What if you are asked to do the unethical and there is no way out? You should always have “Go to hell money” available to say just that. Go to hell and let the chips fall where they may. Resigning is far superior to lowering your standards.

Making Ethical Decisions

This is a short article I wrote when I was studying ethics. First a brief history, followed by a brief outline of the ethical school I live by (Utilitarian Ethics) and then the “how-to” of making ethical decisions. It is an easy read as Word rates the article as suitable for grade eight readers.

Those who specialize in the study of and write about ethics are called Ethicans. By any definition they are a strange lot. Their main occupation is criticizing other ethicans and every ethical school of thought except the ones they favor.

Ethicans attempt to create an ethical school that applies to every occasion. The search is for a unifying ethical system is much like the search for the unifying theory of physics. It may happen in physics but not in ethics. Ethics is an emotional identity attempting to present itself as a logical and rational discipline. It fails miserably.

In addition, the ethical thinkers are not logical thinkers. They squabble amongst themselves and pass themselves off as great thinkers. If you want to read classical examples of poor writing, corrupt logic and pettiness, read the classical ethical writers. Yet they were brilliant.

For example, John Stuart Mills (1806-1873), regarded as the great proponent of Utilitarian Ethics was brilliant. By the age of seventeen he had completed advanced studies in Greek literature and philosophy, chemistry, botany, psychology and law. As a member of the British parliament he was considered a radical, as he supported such outrageous measures as public ownership of natural resources, equality for women, compulsory education, and birth control. He was one of the founders of the women’s suffrage movement.

His 1863 essay on Utilitarian ethics is regarded as the cornerstone of the Utilitarian principles. It is a disgraceful example of writing. For example the opening sentence is sixty-two words long. And things only get worse. Word processing grammar checkers get serious indigestion trying to analyze it.

Since 1863 I doubt if a dozen people have read the 24,000 word document from start to finish. I am not one of them. It is a masterpiece of confusion, bad grammar, and poor punctuation while making little sense. The concept is correct, but Mill’s explanation is so inept, it borders on the criminal.

In truth, the concept can be well expressed in less than five hundred words. Throw in a few examples and two thousand words would be about right. Strange, that is about the length of this essay.

I said they were crazy lot. Consider the founder of Utilitarian Ethics, Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). He was quite a fellow: he was a child prodigy, reading serious works at age three, playing the violin at age five, and studying French and Latin at age six. He entered Oxford University at age 12, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Quite a fellow.

In 1771, thirty years before the industrial revolution, Jeremy Betham invented the Panopticon. A Panopticon was to remove all privacy from prisoners by placing them behind a transparent wall encircling a guard tower.

Jeremy was so impressed with his invention he was determined to have a Panopticon as his casket and be place on public display. Certainly and odd request. But there is a difference between being odd and being disgusting.

Ladies, if you are a bit squeamish you may not want to hear this so please close your eyes. In accordance with his wishes, his body was dissected before his friends. His skeleton, fully clothed and provided with a wax head (the original being mummified), is kept in a glass case at University College, which he helped to found. He may be viewed on the Web with the picture updated every fifteen minutes.

His head was embalmed and is kept by the University.

There are about fifteen schools of ethics. Including minor variations there are untold numbers. After reviewing many of the mainstream schools, I can honestly say I have little idea of what they are talking about except for Utilitarian Ethics.

Fool that I am, I delved into Utilitarian Ethics as it made sense to apply it to my life style.

My ethical system is based on Utilitarian Ethics: the doctrine that what is useful is good, and consequently, that the ethical value of conduct is determined by the utility of the result. Loosely put, its proposition is that the supreme objective of moral action is the achievement of the greatest good for the greatest number. This objective is also considered the aim of all legislation and is the ultimate criterion of all social institutions including businesses.

Like all other ethical systems, it fails if you expect it to solve all ethical problems. No one ethical system can solve a wide range of problems ranging from government to business to individual ethical questions.

Fortunately, I have serious limitations for which I am thankful. I seek answers to my problems and opportunities. I do not have the ability nor the need to solve such issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. Nor can I solve the problems of the world. As I said, they are beyond my capabilities and for that I am thankful for my limitations.

One beauty of Utilitarian Ethics is that it has only two definitions: Good and Evil. Good is defined as any individual’s good feeling ranging from pleasures of the flesh to extreme self-sacrifice. Between these extremes there are included such things as material rewards. Evil is defined as harm to any individual ranging from such minor irritants such as a sliver in the finger to the evils of Hitler. Again, somewhere in there is material loss.

One last consideration: morals. You come to the table with your morals and religious beliefs. Ethics does not teach or propose a moral credo. You are who you are. If you are morally corrupt, a thief or completely uncaring, ethics is of little use to you. The only way one can improve their moral values is probably through some form of revelation.

Living by an ethical system is not in conflict with your religion or lack of it. All the mainstream religions, whether based on love or law, urge you to be good to others while minimizing evil in all its forms. Ethics simply provides a method to assist you in achieving your religious obligations of doing the right thing while minimizing evil. A religious belief is not a requirement of being ethical.

Resolving ethical problems using Utilitarian Ethics has a logical almost mathematical, step-by-step approach to it.

Let’s assume you want to make a business decision. If it does not affect people, there is no ethical consideration. Ethics only concerns itself with people. That does not mean your can abuse animals. Nor does it permit you to burn down you house even if you own it. Wanton destruction is unacceptable.

Is slaughtering animals for human consumption ethical? How about using animals for testing which causes them pain? I have no idea how you feel about the subject. But I do know I could not be employed in such industries, yet I benefit from their practices. As I said, I have serious limitations of my thought processes when it comes to resolving such fundamental issues.

Fortunately all those tough problems do not face me. In truth, I am not sure I could face up to them let alone resolve them.

So on to the reality of everyday life:

Let’s assume we are contemplating installing some form of safety or pollution device.

We think of three possible methods, A, B, and C. And we throw in a fourth possibility D, simply doing nothing. We make a list showing all the benefits (Good) to both ourselves and others. Now consider disadvantages (Evil) to yourself and others. Evaluate both the good and evil, not just to us, but to everyone involved. Consider employees, the shareholders, suppliers, the community, and the government.

The first test is do you benefit from any evil side effect? The test is resolved by considering what, if somehow, the evil side effects did not happen, would you still benefit? If you would benefit only if the evil event occurred, then the act is unethical. It is unethical to benefit from some form of evil inflicted on others. This test quickly determines that theft, murder, cheating, and most forms of lying are unethical acts.

With the list made, consider what method has the least evils. Assuming all three methods meet your goals, only the method having the least evil is ethical. To select a method that does not minimize the evil consequences is unethical.

Let’s consider the ethical merits of laying-off people for lack of work. It happens all the time. Now lack of work can range from receiving fewer orders than expected to simply running out of money, i.e. a builder lays-off his construction workers because he has run out of money. The house is still there to be completed, but there is no money. Employees are certainly harmed by the layoff. We pass the first test, as we do not benefit from their hardship.

Now consider what happens if the layoff is not made. Eventually the company will lose money, become less competitive and the problems multiply for the lack of layoffs. The result can only be that many others such as the employees, suppliers, shareholders or the community will be seriously harmed when the business fails. However unpleasant, the layoff for lack of work is ethical, not nice, but ethical.

So the method is simple. Consider all the alternatives and select the one with the least harm to all. Easier said than done.

Time passes, the act is carried out, and you or someone else thinks of a better, less evil solution to the problem or opportunity. Was the original act ethical? Yes. You tried your best to be ethical. Not being clever enough is no sin. You must learn to live with and rejoice in God’s gift of your limitations.

More time passes. Given the identical problem there is no guarantee that the ethical decision you made in the past would be ethical now. Times change the priorities. What was important then may not be important now. What was a minor consideration then may be a major concern now.

In business we are trying to find the best balance for all: the employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers, government and the community. Demands of each change with time. For example, in recent years the governments drive for improve workplace health and safety, minimizing and controlling pollution have come to the fore. Twenty years ago they were just being thought about. Forty years ago, they were non-issues. Times change. The new balance must be found with the changing times.

If we pay too much for supplies and wages, our costs become excessive and we loose our competitiveness. Layoffs and perhaps business failure occurs harming all employees, the shareholders, our suppliers, customers etc.

If our wages are to low we loose good employees and their skills, endangering the business.

Our family life goes through similar changes. The balance of your influencing your children changes, demanding a rebalance of your private life. Consider the balance when the children were small to when you will have an empty nest. Both logic and Ethics demands you treat your children well. Be good to your children. Always remember: they pick your old age home.

I can understand if you object to my ethical system. But to object to mine while having none of your own is foolish.
This was written to clarify my thoughts and develop an ethical way of reasoning suitable to my life style. Over the years I have found it to be a great problem solver when dealing with personnel problems both at home and at work.

Jim Roe
Smart Job Hunting is a free web site providing a complete and proven method of job hunting. Job Entry positions? Re-entering the workforce? Senior executives? It is all cover here. Job hunting is much more than just writing a résumé.

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Tags: ethical, decision, moral, issues, work

In life, all things connect at every level, and money, honesty and value, the main trinity of this connection in the normal, modern work world is no exception. So, in this article I would like to examine this triumvirate or trinity of concepts in depth and as an integrated whole. Indeed, when this article is done, these concepts will be linked as a solid triangular matrix that works objectively rationally through reality in appearance and actuality and unifies in your mind subjectively as a fully rational and workable concept.

In existence, reality connects in an orderly, understandable way, because in nature, structure does monitor function: from the food we eat, to the way our bodies work, to the air we breathe: reality connects through structures, then the functions of those structures. Indeed, everything starts from basic building blocks and then works upward from there. Even when fully realized, change and evolution is a part of the building blocks that make up everything. Everything is a cycle of thought and action. In fact, time is that way objectively. For the ancestor of every action is a thought, to paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson. If there is no thought behind an action, there can be no success or even fulfillment of reality, even if the result is failure. For consciousness and consciousness only creates conscious results, no matter what.

Connect consciousness to value, and no matter what if there is consistent productive thought behind that consciousness, there is ultimately genuine conscious success as a result. Success is the only value that counts. Anything else is failure. Failure is just a “stepping stone”, but never permanent if efforts are kept consistent and unfailing. Consistency is the key, sure a “never quit attitude” helps, but being able to vary your approach no matter what obstacles may come up is a must in every genuine way. Never quitting and doing the same thing every time without variance is disaster, insanity and frustration. Success is as success adapts.

Honesty and value anchor the triangle of modern survival and adaptation is the ultimate survival technique for success. Indeed, I put money at the top of the triangle of money, honesty and value, to say that money arises from the base of the concept of honesty and values, and without those things money, gold, or whatever commodity is worthless paper, metal or whatever. And anyone who disconnects this triangle from the essential reality of life cannot live in reality but in a dream world of fantasy where mysticism reigns supreme. Survival in reality and objective thinking creates genuine strength. Succumbing to subjective fantasies and mysticism creates genuine weakness. Indeed, weakness is failure and strength is success. No other concept matters as a whole, no other parts matter if you do not take anything else away from this article. For this article seeks rational, integrated action takers and genuine honest people. The rest are not my concern, and I am not writing for them in this article. Need I say that this article is for “cold blooded”, “black hat” winners? No, I won’t. But, I am saying that this article is for productive people who produce more for reality than they take from reality, but get ever better results in every way.

If there was middle ground and no success and failure to the fullest concept, then we would have a “black and white” fantasy world with no gray areas and no choices. Indeed, we live in reality, where all hues and realities are possible in every genuine way and sense and lazy evasion or facing the whole thing head on are the only two choices. Why and how may be the questions, but the answers only come to those who work on answering the questions for themselves, those with courage and those who face reality unflinchingly. Logic is nothing to be flinched at, but faced and understood. Not feared or played with, but worked with and figured out. For logic is a value that creates benefit, including money and currency that has value when used correctly as a concept. For to handle reality well, is logical thinking and action. Handling reality well is the ultimate value in every way. If it was not, then the ultimate fantasy of escape, like “street drugs” would be the way out, which is definitely not the case in any way. For real life is a sober, happy discipline requiring full, unflinching focus on reality where successful actions make it all enjoyable in every genuine way. For genuine value is a real high and the other “high” that comes from external chemicals or “tricks” never works. Value, at the base of the triangle holds the whole triangle up, for no matter what the rationalization, you can have nothing without value, ever. That is the reality of the situation.

My name is Joshua Clayton, I am a freelance writer based in Inglewood, California. I also write under a few pen-names and aliases, but Joshua Clayton is my real name, and I write by that for the most part now. I am a philosophical writer and objective thinker and honest action taker.

I also work at a senior center in Gardena, California as my day job, among other things, but primarily I am a writer. As a kid I did construction work with my Dad which taught me many things like plumbing, hard labor and electrical systems, and I took notes for my Dad’s home poker games at my Uncle Johnnie Gilmore’s house, so I have a lot of life experience, sure. But I went to Cal State Dominguez Hills College, UCLA, and El Camino Junior College and learned a lot, but never got around to getting a degree, just lots of money spent, good grades and some credits. So, here I am currently freelance writing and working at a senior center for a living.

But enough details of my life, what I do is not what I am. So here is what I enjoy, I enjoy reading, listening to music (everything from Beetoven, Strauss and Bach to The Meters, ELO and The Band and Dylan/Garcia and The Grateful Dead also, when they were the Grateful Dead. Well, as you can tell by SOME of the music I listen to, I am a very eclectic person. I am also a deep science fiction fan and as said before, a lover of books. If I were to go into everything it would take thousands of words and I only have about three hundred words here, of which I have used 290 of already. Well, I end here. Thanks. Joshua Clayton.

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Tags: ethics, work, moral, behaviour, conduct

Business coaching remains a rapidly growing profession and one of the impacts of this rapid growth is more scrutiny of the profession. There have been some predictions that business coaching and other forms of coaching will experience increased criticism. This criticism may come in many different forms and today’s professional business coach needs to be able to recognize the criticism and the opportunity or opportunities that result from that criticism. One of the areas of criticism revolves around ethics and personal conduct and it is essential that these two items receive the highest priority in the business coach’s practice.

I believe there is an opportunity that exists right now to turn criticism of business coaching into compliments for business coaching. Having identified the opportunity and the importance of ethics and the highest levels of personal conduct to business coaching, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following Ten Commitments to Ethics and Personal Conduct to help turn the criticism into compliments.

Commitment #1: Commit to maintaining the highest ethical standards with your clients.

Commitment #2: Commit to maintain the highest level of honesty & integrity with your clients.

Commitment #3: Commit to being responsible and to do no harm to your clients.

Commitment #4: Commit to always putting the interests of your client first.

Commitment #5: Commit to maintaining the strictest levels of confidentiality with your clients and their information.

Commitment #6: Commit to avoiding conflicts of interest when being engaged by clients that may be competitors.

Commitment #7: Commit to the highest ethical standards in all your marketing practices.

Commitment #8: Commit to always conduct yourself in a professional manner and to avoid inappropriate relations with your clients.

Commitment #9: Commit to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all your public relations efforts concerning your business coaching practice.

Commitment #10: Commit to offering only those professional business coaching services where you have the appropriate experience and expertise.

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 225 articles on business.

Your strategic thinking business coach encourages you to commit to the highest levels of ethical conduct in your business. If you would like to learn more about how a strategic thinking business coach can facilitate and guide you in creating, enhancing and/or fostering an environment that promotes ethical behavior and the highest standards of honesty & integrity within your business, please visit Glenn Ebersole through his web site.

To find out more about the benefits & rewards of effectively working with a strategic thinking business coach, please visit Glenn Ebersole through his web site.

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Businesses prosper when all involved do their best. Giving employees leading-edge task related knowledge and paying them well, however, are only two elements in helping people strive for company success. Studies show that companies that look after workers holistically often emphasize the verboten word in business circles – “spirituality”. If the top 100 companies of 2009 can do it, so can your company!

Spirituality tends to be associated with religion. The image is one of gurus, nuns and friars meditating. Religious people are not necessarily spiritual. Spiritual people are not necessarily religious.

No one can deny that things exist outside the experience of our five limited senses. Spirituality is the personal relationship with this “something”. Spirituality includes developing: a sense of happiness, self-confidence, enthusiasm, ethical behaviour, honesty, self-esteem, positive attitude, aesthetics, awe, sense of wonder, togetherness, loyalty, respect, sensitivity, caring, love, understanding, forgiveness, friendship, trust, drive, reliability, empathy, and more. Do business owners not want to nurture these qualities in employees?

If a holistic – intellectual, physical and spiritual – approach is used, employees will benefit greatly because their workplace offers something that is personal and inclusive.

I do many group retreats each year. The alienation and disconnection from the earth and others is often very noticeable. People are alone in the crowd. “Me, myself and I” are the most important people there. Some entertain themselves to death and fill their lives with noise to escape issues. Some show a jitteriness and restlessness that is evidence of lacking and detachment. Meaning and purpose in life or work have been lost.

In the business world, there are all of the above along with stress, tension, pressure to sell, produce and meet quotas. Why don’t employers recognize these as causes of many problems? Looking after people more can get the same or better results than whips or constant surveillance. Add value to people. They will add value to their work.

Attention to the spiritual needs of employees reduces illness and absenteeism, makes work more satisfying, improves motivation and encourages general wellness in the workplace. Try it. It works!

Check the Fortune 500 Best Companies list for ideas on how to really look after employees.

For a custom-designed spiritual, secular retreat or workshop, please get in touch. Try it. It just might make the difference you are looking for.

by Otto Schmidt, Education Consultant, Accent on Skills Consulting, Toronto, visit this web

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Tags: ethics, workplace, work, business, office

The article highlights the need for purchasing power by rural Indians especially in the context of wide FDI’s which set up / comming up in India.we know that the traditional market place are increasingly being replaced with the departmental stores,super markets and speciality stores.The lifestyles of the economy class are increasing,but the average rural Indians earnings are still the same.

People of rural India need information and decision making for their better day to day operations,which will improve their quality of life and also empower them.FDI’s are shaping the country’s economic scenario,but do this mean that the retail stores are set up only for the economy class.In India,the rate of items in any retail stores are so high and a common layman cannot even dream of buying a product.The government is promoting the retail stores in India,without keeping in mind the income of the rural Indians.

In terms of GDP,we are comparing with Chinas’s GDP,but see the standard of living in China and the Indian rural people.The Government has created the NREGA Bill,but does it mean that all the people residing in rural India are benefitting from this scheme.I do think that this scheme has benefitted the pocket of many politicians & State Government officials.Time has come for the government to open the eyes and see this all,rather than providing good lifestyle only for the certain class of the society.

Rural India consumes 56% of the FMCG demands and we have got quite lot of Indian FMCG Companies,but still lot of FDI’s are pouring in India.What I suggest is that let the Government see the living standard of the rural India,upgrade them and chalk out potential opportunities for any MNC’s or FDI’s.We all know that Retail stores in India are meant only for the uper class / economy class,can we see anyone from rural India over the retail outlets or any retail outlets set in Rural India.Never,India is still sleeping and trying to cope up with the developed countries.First lets ensure that 100% of the Indians are economically forward and create opportunities for any MNC’s or FDI’s in India.

I want to ask one question,can you find any rural indian working in WAL-MART,you wont find this,why that,we should change the system.To sum up,I would like to say that any retail stores operating in india shouls see wheather they are really creating road for the rural indians to buy any products.I’m really proud of many Indian Companies like HLL,ITC,GODREJ etc., whose sales figure crosses more than 60% only form rural market.The Government should take steps to ensure that the prices of stuff in the retail stores are lowered down,which can be beneficial to all classes of the society and the corporate Sector should put forth the views what I suggested.

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Tags: ethics, business, work, Issue, person

It is said that who you are in life will be who you are in business (even a work from home business) and vise-versa. If you are someone who is respected in life and considered a person of stature, you will also be that in your work from home business. Just the same with money….a poor man who inherits a million dollars will once again be a poor man, unless he first becomes the millionaire, and then inherits his millions. Who you are without money is who you will be with money, just richer.

In business, posture and integrity are everything. How someone views you as a leader, a businessman, a mentor, a merchant, and a person will directly reflect on your success. Now, I have seem some pretty shady people go into business and do really well at first. I attribute that to good planning. But as time goes on that persons business will eventually decay away and fall out from underneath him. I have seen it over and over. In my book, the honest, fair, and just will always prevail.

Always operate your business out of integrity at all costs, whether in your favor or not. Integrity is basically your ability or drive to “do the right thing” in-spite of the ethical or personal distress it may cause. When faced with decisions, always do what is ethical. If and when you do this, you will find that your business will flourish. Others will trust you, confide in you, and depend on you to always act out of integrity. Being a leader means leading in your life as well. You must not only lead in business and success, but you must be an example of ethics and morality. Live in integrity not just sometimes, but ATT, all the time.

I am David Allred and I have created my work from home business, and I will teach you how to obtain the lifestyle of prosperity and abundance you are seeking. Would it be worth 30 minutes of your time to learn of a work from home business, that will change your life forever? Make more in a month than you do in a year!

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Tags: business, ethics, conduct, work, building

- business ethics, abbreviated as BE and
- staff morale, abbreviated as SM.
Business Ethics.

There is a difference between morale and ethics and the best way to show this, is to add: “staff” and “business”. Business ethics is in general more specific and focused on good-practices in business; like that of a company’s practices in market behavior, in sales practices (intimidating clients) or accounting practices, etc. Business ethics is about scoping your business in an ethical way. All these (BE) are related to the employee representing a company and how it acts in name of this company. So are you going to permit your sales employees to sell cigarettes to children (under sixteen) and things like that? Where are the limits in achieving performance? Where do you draw the (business) line?

Staff Morale.

Staff morale is a different topic. It is more about how people (management, employees) work together in the organization. BE guide employees in the external market in contact with clients, SM should guide internal employees in activities, contact and communications. For instance; lying (from management to employee) is something that lowers staff morale. If a manager is not sincere he cannot expect the employee to be loyal and cooperative, etc. That is on the individual (manager-to-employee) level. On an organizational level, the culture of the organization influences staff morale; … a lack of trust in the organization, the morale will be affected.

Than in times like these with possible reorganizations, staff morale will be influenced too. Again sincerity defines who employees respond to lay-offs. If there is a credible approach that supports the reorganization than people will agree, and resistance can be handled. But if there is no rationality behind the lay-off the morale diminishes. Employees feel they are a target.

Business Ethics and Staff Morale.

Yet both affect each other. A company that is involved in bad business practices will influence the morale of the internal staff (a company that sells guns will attract employees who favor the use of guns…)

“Employees feel united and motivated when their company engages with its community and becomes involved with a cause.”

An example:
We recognize that our staff’s morale and enthusiasm is fundamental to reaching our goal of becoming one of the top … in the world. We are therefore committed to … a high standard.

Should a company use “staff morale” as a corporate value?
I wouldn’t recommend it, as it is very vague what it all means. It’s better focusing on a specific (corporate) value.

In the news:
- “By promoting business ethics, we hope to increase awareness not only among students, but also in the community.” (insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=34786)
- Editor: There is a growing movement on the Internet that is trying to hold one Internet service provider accountable for its business ethics (mercedsunstar.com/perspectives/story/767312.html)

… And let’s not forget the Failure of business ethics in Finance over the past years… Maybe as a corporate value statement they (both BE and SM) are not needed, but business ethics as well as staff morale will gain in importance over the next years. The whole climate change topics is also about business ethics (our culture) in relation to mother nature…

Copyright © 2009 Hans Bool

For more information on similar and a wide range of different topics have a look at the writer’s block note

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Tags: ethics, business, moral, work, market

Do ethics play into your business decisions? The chances are very good that this is not a question that you have asked yourself, and it is also quite possibly a question that nobody else has ever asked of you. However, if your business is going to be successful, or retain any successes that it has had in the past, ethics must absolutely play into all of your business decisions.

Too often, the general public believes that all business decisions are based on the company’s bottom line. Unfortunately, it is unethical companies who have given the public this perception; however there are countless companies in existence who actually put ethics ahead of the bottom line – successfully. Is your company one of these?

Here are the facts. When a business is not conducted in an ethical way, it fails. It may not fail quickly, but in the end, it does fail. Enron is an example of this. The credit crisis that we are currently facing is also an example of this. Neither of these industries adhered to any type of ethical code, and while the credit industry has not completely failed to date, it is in a steep decline, causing economical situations that include foreclosures and lay offs at an alarming rate.

Ethics , as a whole, covers numerous areas of the business world, and even numerous aspects of your company. Ethics should be used to create policies that cover human resources, marketing, research and development, accounting, public safety as it relates to your products or services, and so much more. When you create policies that are originally based on your own ethics policy, you are actually putting ethical business practices ahead of your bottom line – but you will find that in the long run, you actually end up profiting more.

Whether you believe in karma or not, there are those who believe that operating a business by an ethical code is much like basing your actions on the law of karma. With karma, whatever you send out – good or bad – comes back to you three times over. When you operate your business by ethical standards, you will find that karma really does play into this, because even if it appears that your ethical decisions do not raise, and possibly even negatively affect your bottom line, over time, that bottom line will be dramatically increased, simply because you made ethical decisions.

Hopefully, when you make business decisions, ethics dictates that you should base those decisions on what is best for your community and society as a whole first. Following this, you must consider your employees and your customers. The bottom line should only be considered after these other considerations. After all, people really do matter more than money, and as a business owner making business decision, you must ensure that all of the decisions you make not only avoid harming people, as a whole, but preferably that they somehow benefit the human race as a whole as well.

This and other topics that deal with corporate communications, business to customer relationships, and sales training through Collective Vision are just some of the topics discuss.

And now I would like to offer you one of my book chapters absolutely free. You can get instant access at this site

From Jed A. Reay – The Communicator/Connector and Visionary Master Sales Trainer.

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Tags: ethics, work, business, benefit, point

Workplace bullying is real. It’s often passively condoned. It affects the target’s physical and mental health. There is no legislation to date to protect a target of workplace bullying.

According to the Workplace Bullying Institute’s statistics, 57% of targets are women and 71% of bullying happens by a woman to a woman. If you are a target you have a 77% chance of being driven from your job.

If you leave your job without challenging your employer, the odds are that you will find it more difficult to bounce back from the trauma.

I was a victim of workplace bullying.

In my case, the person who bullied me was a person I reported to directly. HR as well as district operations managers knew she had targeted and pushed out many former employees. They had filed complaints to both HR and her direct supervisor (the VP).
The bully always had a plausible excuse for what was happening and therefore seemed “untouchable”.

I was one of the 77% who left a job I loved due to psychological and physical stress.

After I left my position I stood up. I wrote a factual letter detailing the instances of abuse. I copied everyone directly involved with my abuser including the President of the company. People started coming forward. Calls were made to former employees. Three months after I left she was fired.
Six months after that she was rehired into a different district.

If you are being targeted at work, there are some things you should know.

• You are NOT alone. Chances are you are not the only person who has been targeted by your abuser.

• You are not in anyway deserving of abuse. You did not cause it to happen.

• Seek medical and psychological help immediately.

• Keep detailed records off site of dates, times and examples of the abuse.

• Go to HR at your own risk. Know that they may tell you that because this activity is not illegal, you are on your own to deal with it.

• Do not react emotionally to your abuser.

It took me a full year to recover. I have since started my own company and have spoken out about workplace bullying. There is now pending legislation in 15 states.

For more information contact the Workplace Bullying Institute at: http://bullyinginstitute.org/

Jill Betz Freeman is passionate about helping individuals and companies grow their businesses. With over 15 years experience in business development, sales, marketing, customer service management and training, Jill has become an expert in her field. Her approach to solving business growth challenges is straight on, collaborative and creative. Jill has consulted with entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, small and mid-sized companies to overcome their business development challenges.

A former client, Stacy Kelly, CEO of PM Squared in Houston, TX said, “Jill is an extremely talented professional whn pointed the way through my sales and marketing challenges. “Being a business owner doesn’t necessarily mean you have sales or marketing skills.” “Jill was an inspirational sales and marketing consultant and coach.” My business has grown 50% within the last year”.

Jill Betz Freeman is the CEO of ROAR! Growing Your Business With Pride You can contact her through her web

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Tags: ethics, work, business, place, research

No matter how large or small your business may be, the chances are good that there is some level of business ethics training that is needed – either by you or your employees or managers. Too often, however, many business owners think that business ethics training is a waste of time.

This, however, is not the case. Numerous things can be accomplished with business ethics training, and this type of training can be either very simplified or very complex. The business ethics training needed for you and your managers is typically more extensive and complicated than that which you will be requiring for your employees.

Implementing an ethics program in your organization accomplishes many things. First, research has found that greater attention to ethics in the workplace has actually improved society overall, in that we no longer have to fear poverty due to accidents in the workplace, and our children are no longer forced to work. Because of business ethics, people in the workplace have more rights, and are therefore more productive.

The business also benefits from implementing an ethics program. Employees are less likely to quit, and this enables the company to grow, and to cut down on the costs associated with training new employees as old – or not-so-old – employees leave the company for better jobs. With an ethics program, again, employees become more productive, and actually work better as a team.

An ethics policy also protects the business from a legal standpoint, ensuring that all policies of the company are in fact legal. Many people don’t realize it, but an ethics program covers a wide range of business departments, such as planning, management, research, development, human resources, and marketing, as well as numerous other company specific departments. Aside from this, an ethics policy also goes a long way in building a positive relationship with the community, as well as in strengthening the company’s public image as a whole.

Once business owners and managers have had business ethics training, training for employees can begin. This should include existing employees as well as incoming employees. The ethics program should be reviewed with all new employees during the training or orientation period. For employees, this usually not only includes a review of the ethics program, but may also use a number of example ethical situations, where the employee, or prospective employee, is asked to state how they would handle the situation.

Ethics training, or at the very least the ethics policy of the company, should be given to the employee for them to keep. Each employee should also be asked to sign a form stating that they have reviewed the ethics policy of the company, and that they have received the company mandated business ethics training.

This and other topics that deal with corporate communications, business to customer relationships, and sales training through Collective Vision are just some of the topics discuss.

And now I would like to offer you one of my book chapters absolutely free. You can get instant access at this site

From Jed A. Reay – The Communicator/Connector and Visionary Master Sales Trainer.

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Tags: ethics, work, business, life, code

In the world of business today, people are searching for a standard that is at a level above the normal greed, arrogance, undisciplined practices that are prevalent on Wall Street and in the shop around the corner today. I believe the Bible is filled with words of wisdom that can serve as a guide to those that are believers and non-believers alike in practicing Christian Business Ethics that is in line with the character of Christ. In seeking guidance from the Lord through His word on how we are to behave and do business from a biblical perspective, the bar will need to be raised on business practices that will cause the world to be in awe of the awesome power of the word of God and the benefits that one can glean from seeking advice from the Lord.

We recently saw in the news how executives from major companies like AIG (American Insurance Group) and CitiGroup were behaving of late. It is truly disgraceful to the human race. With no sense of care and leadership that they once aspired to inspire others to want to emulate them as role models. It seems as if these execs have adopted a view of total self interest and self-preservation without regard for others. There was a time when men cared about their fellow co-worker and wanted them to succeed in their jobs and businesses as much as the next guy. Now that has changed to what’s in it for me.

After watching how the economy tanked from mid 2007, I noted that if men just behaved differently, with a higher standard, I thought that it was time that someone started talking about how the bar can be raised to a level that will cause men to aspire to become as Godly men of old. Like our founding fathers. Those days when a man’s word, due to his Christian Business Ethics, caused him to establish his name and his company, based on the reliability and assurance of his word. Of course this was due to the godly character that he possessed. Men had strong convictions back then that formed his business dealing practices.

It is in this spirit and with guidance from the word of God, that I will seek to encourage my fellow entrepreneurs and business executives and Leaders to display and practice business ethics that the world would want to emulate. This is what the web has been doing since the beginning of 2009.

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Tags: ethics, business, work, religious, principe

Not long ago our local city council had banned the council men and women from getting free tickets to events around the city. The thinking was that if they had gotten free-tickets then they would be more favorable to those businesses, nonprofits, or individuals that gave them the tickets. Sure enough, we know that to be human nature and it kind of goes against all the anti-lobbying sentiment going on these days doesn’t it.

Still, there is a huge flipside to this whole argument that maybe our city council is not addressing, and I thought I’d mention it incase this happens in your town too. You see, when civic events happen around town, it’s a good place for the politicians to be, so people can ask them questions, get to know them and voice their concerns. It also helps events attract more people and legitimizes get-togethers.

Why is this important? For many reasons, but the town that sticks together has more people buying locally and it runs smoother. Further, if a city council person has to buy tickets to everything, and mind you in any given city there is an event going on nearly every night, sometimes more than one, and you have to choose; the council person may opt out to save the money.

In our city for instance the city council people are paid next to nothing, it amounts to a volunteer job in fact. In tough economic times it makes sense for a city and the city council to be “all-in” and in it to win it.

Yes, free-stuff and gifts can be abused, and yes, you should ask your councilmen and women to be ethical and fair, but making rules against free-tickets to local city events or preventing your city leaders from attending the maximum number of civic events, only hurts the town as a whole. Think on this.

Lance Winslow – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance

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Tags: ethics, business, moral, service, work

Believe it or not there are many folks that will take a company logo from a company other than their own and use it to promote their website, or use it to add credibility to their endeavors. But when these folks use these logos without permission, that is actually a crime and it is very serious. You see, the logo or brand of a company is hard earned and it must be watched carefully.

Over the years I noticed websites using our logo to promote their franchise buyer services, without our permission. Then when someone decided they wanted to buy a franchise they’d sign up on the website to get information. Then the website would call our company and tell us they had a live prospect with “x-amount” of dollars in such and such area of the country that wanted to buy our franchise.

They’d sometimes try to sell us the name, but that would really make us upset, here they were selling us leads to franchise buyers when they used our company logo without permission to attract the prospect. Can you believe the gall of these people?

Worse, they were dumbfounded when we told them we did not want the lead, would not pay for it, and for them to contact the person and apologize and tell them they were not affiliated with us and that they stole the logo without permission and put it onto their website! Further, if they did not do this, we would file a lawsuit within 3-days. Luckily, we only had to do that once.

Often, we noticed vendors that did business with us, use our logo to tell their customers that they worked with great companies like ours. But you see, we didn’t want our competition knowing which vendors we worked with, needless to say, we told them to take it down. Once we decided to cut the vendor and they lost our account.

It’s always amazed me that companies will borrow logos like that, without permission, but don’t you do it, it makes companies very angry, so, ask permission first. And expect them to say no. But if they say yes, then you have done the right thing and been rewarded for it.

Today with the Internet people many people simply lift logos off and use them for their own purposes, it’s like the Wild West out there, and companies work very hard to control who uses their logos and where. Be sure to ask first. Think on this.

Lance Winslow – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance

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Tags: ethics, business, law, work, event

We sure hear a lot about companies that over hype their products with false misrepresentations. In fact, the government is always going after some company for something due to consumer complaints. Even the government itself gets in on the action “over-hyping” it’s efforts in combating consumer complaints and going after the companies that make pie in the sky advertising and marketing claims.

Still, the biggest hype, I have ever seen in my life hasn’t come from the government or the private business, rather it comes from organizations that are between government and business or quasi-government agencies. I call the Government Like Organizations (GLOs). So, now that I’ve enlightened you to this fact, I bet you are wondering which organizations I am talking about.

Well, none other than the Economic Development Associations. They work very hard to recruit businesses to the area and help them get funding, get tax incentives, and get set up. And they are notorious for over promising and under delivering. Sometimes they take flak for it, but usually they get away with it. What is the Moral of the story? Sure; Don’t be lured by hype.

A company must weigh all profit potential benefits in the market place over promised tax benefits. A business must make decisions based on market reality not promises or benefits from government, as those can disappear at the drop of a hat. Politicians move like the wind based on public sentiment, uncomfortable environmental activism, and adverse media stories.

If you are a company decision maker please consider these issues before agreeing to anything and “trust but verify” when it comes to economic development associations. Think on this.

Lance Winslow – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance

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Tags: ethics, work, business, person, research

Ethics and morality used to be used interchangeable in business. I do not believe this can or should be the current practice. Many businesses, including the DSA – Direct Sales Association have defined a Code of Ethics. Those business ethics basically say be forthcoming and not deceptive, don’t use false claims, etc.; pretty cut and dry stuff.

Yet when it comes to morality in business, some would argue that definition to be a bit subjective. But is it? Shouldn’t we all have a general sense of right and wrong? Or is it a matter of what’s right to one independent sales consultant would be highly taboo to another? If it’s not exactly illegal by company policies and procedures, does that mean anything goes in independent sales?

It’s a dog eat dog world. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It’s a cut-throat economy out there. True or False? First let’s take a look at what is meant by “cut-throat sales”.

According to one responder on Yahoo Answers: “If you work in a “cut throat sales” environment, it means that the reps are all either starving, lazy or greedy. They will “cut your throat” by stealing your customers/prospects the minute you turn your back.” The same responder continued, “If you have the stomach for it, you can make great money. If you have morals and ethics, you may get ulcers and stress – I did.”

Headlines of a Nov. 26, 2008 Newspaper read: “The cut-throat Christmas: Stores in price-slash frenzy as battle for shoppers gets desperate.

Most of us would agree that Cut Throat Sales is much more than being keen and aggressive – it’s more about being desperate. But does it work?

Some Direct Sales companies have a policy about territories. It’s my understanding that Mary Kay Cosmetic independent consultants are required to ask potential customers if they already have a Mary Kay consultant. If so, they must back off. Other companies have a clause that reads something like: No Territory Restrictions – There are no exclusive territories granted to anyone.

Take this scenario for example: A Direct Sales company consultant has a display set up in a local business to generate leads. A consultant from the same company also happens to patronize this business; sees the display; and still tries to infiltrate the business and make those customers and employees her own customers. Assuming there are no territory restrictions, is this practice acceptable or no? What if the second consultant is from the same company but is on a different team? Is that free enterprise or is that an immoral business practice? Does your response change at all if both consultants are on the same team?

How do you feel about this second example: A consultant attends a family celebration and gives her direct sales products as a gift. Other guests admire the item; yet the consultant who gave the gift merely responds, “I’m glad you like it.” Then within the confines of this same conversation, another guest, who also happens to be a consultant with the same company, whips out catalogs and starts a sales pitch in the middle of the family celebration, declaring, “oh I sell that too!” Morally wrong or all is fair is business? Does it matter if both of these consultants are on the same team?

Here’s my feeling on both of these situations – take what you like and discard the rest: They’re both wrong, no matter if the consultants are on the same team or not, but it makes it even more immoral if they happen to be on the same team. In the first situation, if the second consultant didn’t think to request a display first, then she should move on to another business. There are plenty of leads to go around without needed to be cut throat about it.

In the second scenario, I’m shocked and disgusted that someone would even under cut the first consultant who quietly gave the item as a gift. The second consultant did nothing but create awkwardness and cause herself to look like a real buffoon. The second consultant will self-destruct with that kind of desperate cut throat sales tactics. It does not work and it’s just plain wrong.

Here’s the rub – anyone who doesn’t see these two above examples as immorality in business probably partakes in those kinds of activities. He or she likely sees cut throat sales as the only way to be successful. My wager is that if there are temporary sales successes in this type of behavior, it’s short lived and the perpetrators will continually need to move on from company to company once bridges are burned and the self-implosion is finalized.

To those folks – I wish you well; you’re going to need it. To those direct sales independent consultants who see something fundamentally wrong with this type of activity, try not to let the choices of others consume you and steal you of your joy. Keep running your business with authenticity and integrity – you’ll soar among eagles!

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Star Director with Scentsy Flameless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie here

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Tags: ethics, business, moral, work, person

There are many parasites of the Business World and they range from Lawyers to Professors to the Bureaucratic Scum of over-regulation. If we could eliminate many of these folks via some new type of high-heat, high-energy Laser Weapon then the business community would be a better place you see?

Some of the Business Professors are so arrogant and assign their students projects in different industries and those student bother businesses for information to do meaningless, crappy and BS papers. Oh the kids think they are all brilliant and a bunch of smarty pants, but they give themselves away by asking the dumbest questions in the World.

The only thing worse than academia is the BS regulators wasting the time of business owners pretending to be industry professionals and buyers, they should all be deported with the illegal aliens to Zimbabwe as farmers, screw em. It is amazing their BS entrapment techniques, playing games and they have never done anything in their lives, never made a payroll or created a single job. Scum of the Earth really, except for lawyers, although sometimes they are both. Death is not an option, but put them to work in Africa as farmers so they can produce something. Make em’ work. HA.

If you are a student then well, good luck on your class project, and re-read this several times, it is probably worth more than your entire MBA class. If you are the Professor assigning such crap, get a life and stop wasting businesses time. If you are regulator go shoot yourself and help humanity. If you are a Lawyer, well you have already been told where to go. Consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags:work, ethics, article, workplace, social

If you had been seriously injured at work due to a fault of your employer, would you expect an apology from them? Apparently, for the vast majority of injured employees, this is just too much to ask. Recent research uncovered that most UK employers fail to say ‘sorry’ when one of their workers suffers a personal injury or accident on the job. The survey of employees who had been injured at work found that 97 per cent of them had never received an apology from their boss.

The figure suggests that too many employers do not feel personally responsible for their workers’ health and safety. The new figures followed a previous survey that showed that around 62 per cent of workers believed that their employer was paying less attention to health and safety since the onset of the recession in the UK.

This is a mistake -employers who do not pay attention to health and safety leave themselves open to financial redress, firstly through losing valuable man hours if a worker is hurt – and secondly by leaving themselves open to a compensation claim.

Health and safety in the workplace must be more than just a box-ticking exercise; if an employer is not truly invested in ensuring his employees are safe and well, not only will he have difficulties retaining staff, but he will leave himself open to financial redress, should an accident occur.

The survey also showed that there was no point in employers paying lip service to the idea of responsibility by making an apology in the hope of avoiding a compensation claim. It revealed that 88 per cent of accident victims would not change their mind regardless of whether they received an apology.

If an employee is injured in an accident that was not their fault then they can lose income through having to take time off work, or through having to pay for expensive medical treatment. In situations such as this, it is right and proper that they have access to a financial compensation package that can help them through such a difficult time. Similarly, a compensation claim is an effective deterrent to employers who might be tempted to cut corners when it comes to health and safety.

Someone who has been injured at work needs all the support they can get, including a suitable response from the party or parties responsible for the work accident. Having a serious accident at work is usually a highly traumatic experience, and one which takes a good deal of psychological and physical recovery. For some, the injuries can devastate their lives.

This is why the importance of health and safety in the workplace cannot be underestimated, and every possible measure should be taken to ensure that when an employee is injured, they are made to feel as comfortable as possible. Employees need to be aware that saying ‘sorry’ when they were responsible for an employee’s work injury is a courtesy which should be kept to, just as they would say ‘sorry’ if they were responsible for any other kind of accident.

The National Accident Helpline are specialists in work injury claims. Our specialist solicitors help victims of accidents make an accident claim for their personal injury.

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Tags: ethics, work, business, individuality, person

Many people are aware of advance fee fraud tactics, whereby the scammer regularly sends a donation(they normally targeted charities but due to exposure they now have to focus on other alternatives)to a charity, until he/she suddenly claims there is a huge check they would like to send which dwarfs everything they have previously sent, but there is the small matter of the customs/excise duty/tax,(which incidentally happens to overshadow every donation they have sent previously) they promise to send the money pulling on emotional strings but only if the charity/victim would help with custom and excise charges, the charity unbeknownst to them sees the client’s history and assumes all is well, pays the alleged tax/customer/excise, and never hear from the scammer again.

Well with the help of the net, this type of advance fee fraud is now a rare occurrence, as many people are aware immediately what is going on. So now the scammers have resulted to ingenious ways to con people out of their money. One of these is pretending to provide a job for the victim, e.g for a textiles/clothing business (which may or may not exist, just as far as it fulfills the purposes of the scammer).

The crux of the scam is to claim that there are severe tax duties if trading as a wholesale distributor for this particular region (i.e for Europe) and they would make a saving if individuals were cashing out their check instead, the problem is these check are fraudulent, obtained from ID theft and the like.

The scammer will ask the victim to keep 10% of the proceeds or thereabouts, and forward the rest to them via a recognized international payment method, or any other untraceable e-currency, since these transfers are hard to trace the scammer gets away scot free. Some of the checks might even clear, and the victim thinks he has found a legitimate job opportunity, until the banks contact the police and the victim has to explain what he/she is doing cashing out fraudulent checks.

As always if a job opportunity involves you sending money or spending money avoid like the plague.

Dan Stevens is a contributor on
Scammers exposed

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Tags: ethics, work, business, person, plan

Today, businesses have a great deal of responsibility. They have a responsibility to their employees, to their customers, and to their community as a whole. This is all a part of doing good business, but businesses must also deal with ethical business issues on a daily basis.

Ethical business issues cover a wide scope of areas. Ethical business must be practiced with employees, with customers, and internally. For example, cooking the books, so to speak, is unethical. Not dealing fairly with employees is unethical as well, and there are numerous other ethical issues that employers face in the area of human resource management. Ethics must also be applied to sales and marketing tactics, to production of the product, to copyrights, and much more.

Some businesses face special ethical business issues. For instance, a lawyer cannot represent a client if he has already represented someone who has sued that particular client. It is unethical. A doctor may not give out medical information about a patient to anyone, as this is unethical – and against the law.

But in the general area of business, one must ascertain exactly what ethical business issues may arise, in their particular business, and develop a plan to avoid unethical business practices, or to handle those matters as they occur. For small business, this is a fairly easy task. However, for large corporations and such, it can be very complex, and this is why many large corporations actually have ethics officers. These officers make sure that the business is being operated, as a whole, in an ethical way, and they work to make sure that if this is not the case, that the problem is dealt with in a timely manner.

In the last decade, numerous ethical business issues have been in the news. The Enron scandal probably tops that list, but there have also been issues of employee privacy, in cases where the employer was watching them or monitoring phone calls or emails. There have even been issues concerning blogs written by employees that employers find to be less than favorable, where employees are fired from their job for stating their personal opinion, on their personal blog, during their own personal time. The question begs to be answered, where does an employee’s responsibility to his company begin, and his privacy and rights end?

In the online world of business, a whole new set of ethical business issues have cropped up. Whether your business is large or small, you have a responsibility to other cultures and nations. You must use care with your content, making sure that it is not offensive to any group. You must also use care with your coding, to ensure that your website will not damage your customers system. You must also not use underhanded tactics to collect email addresses, to overcharge customers, or to spam people in general. At the same time, all other traditional ethical business issues still apply. What are the ethical business issues that will arise with your particular business? It is important to figure this out now, and to devise a plan that ensures that you and your business are protected, without stepping on the rights or privacy of others.

This and other topics that deal with corporate communications, business to customer relationships, and sales training through Collective Vision are just some of the topics discuss.

We help you create your future through Collective Visioning

And now I would like to offer you one of my book chapters absolutely free. You can get instant access at this site

From Jed A. Reay – The Communicator/Connector and Visionary Master Sales Trainer.

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Tags: ethics, business, work, Issue, person