Sustainability and Business Ethics: Analyzing Unethical Behavior

This report delves into the crucial intersection of sustainability and business ethics, emphasizing their significance for corporate success. It analyzes unethical behaviors prevalent in the workplace, such as exploitation and misconduct, and their detrimental impacts on employee performance and organizational growth. The report highlights several reasons for unethical conduct, including pressure, misguided loyalty, lack of awareness, and self-interest. It then proposes a series of principles and strategies to mitigate unethical behavior, including establishing a code of conduct, leading by example, reinforcing consequences, hiring for values, showing employee appreciation, creating checks and balances, and ensuring confidentiality. Furthermore, the report discusses additional aspects for enhancing organizational sustainability, such as identifying relevant facts, fostering transparency, and promoting ethical decision-making to create a positive and ethical work environment.

Sustainability and business ethics

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
Analyzing the unethical behavior and the choices to be made. Ways through which it can be
avoided...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Sustainability and business ethics are those aspects which are associated with the
corporate sustainability of the business unit. This helps in the management and coordination of
environmental, social, financial demands and concern to ensure the ethical success of the
business (Epstein and Buhovac, 2014.). The sustainability for the business resist upon the three
pillars that helps in the evaluating the efforts through which the shot terms profits are attained in
an effective manner. The present report discuss about the strategic decision making with an
ethical dimensions. It analyze about the unethical behavior which is being practiced at the
workplace and hinder the performance of the personal. The ways will be discussed through
which the unethical behavior can be avoided at the workplace.
Analyzing the unethical behavior and the choices to be made. Ways through which it can be
avoided
Unethical dictates the lacking of the moral principles and the unwillingness to adhere the
proper rules of conduct that is defined in order to manage the work and avoid unfair practices at
the work place. Unethical behavior refers to those actions or activities which fall outside the
acceptable standards of business operations. In the present business scenario,unethical behavior
is common at workplace. Exploitation of the workers is one of the aspect which compel
individual to adopt unethical practices at workplace (Majali, 2013). For instance: Standard
timing hours in each organization is 9am to 6pm. In this, if organization compel their personnel
to work for the longer hours at low cost then it is considered as unethical behavior. Moreover,
when company does not offer any extra monetary reward to the personnel for their extra efforts
then it compel them to behave unethically. In this, human resources of the firm does not perform
their work with the high level of efforts (Epstein and Buhovac, 2014).
The present report discuss about the case of dealing with staff performance issues. This is
the case study which is based on the unethical behavior of the male colleagues with the female
staff of the organization. Due to this, the female employee is facing a great pressure in relation to
the work as well as the personal situations. Perhaps, the misconduct of the male employee, her
work is getting affected over a greater extent. This has been putting her under pressure. Due to
this, she may face adverse consequences which hinders the entire performance of the firm.
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In addition to this, they also started to make excuses to fulfill their financial needs or
requirements. This aspect clearly reflects that exploitation compel personnel to perform their
work beyond the aspect that what is morally right or wrong. Unethical behavior places negative
impact upon the growth and success of business organization (Common Reasons for Unethical
Behavior. 2011). There are several reasons due to which the unethical behavior arises at the
workplace that are discussed underneath:
 Due to pressure, the personal is drive to practice those things that are not generally
practiced by them. That result into the various types of pressures such as from the co-
workers, along with the expectation to meet the deadlines and many other. This is the
major reason due to which unethical behavior arises at the workplace.
 Misguided loyalty is the another reason of the unethical behavior which is practiced on
the job. As the employees lie in front of their employers so that they remain loyal to their
bosses (Wolfe, 2016). The employees make it a practice which reflects the unethical
behavior of them at the workplace they are employees.
 Many a times, the employees are not aware of the work and the role they need to perform
for the purpose to fulfill the company objectives as they are not sure about the things they
need to do. Likewise, if they are aware of the right thing they practice the wrongful
behavior for their self- interest, personal gain and ambition which result in the immoral
practice in relation to the work assigned.
 In certain cases, the person act unethically within the enterprise as they believes that this
will help in their career advancement. They adopt the wrong means through which they
are able to impress the superior by presenting the false image of the personal (Moore and
Gino, 2015). For instance: a person destroy a co-worker's project in order to prove more
superior in comparison with them. They major reason which is associated with the unethical behavior of the employees is
the conflict that arises between them due to wrongful act which they practice in order to
affect the mental status of the personal. This result in the violations that are not always
transparent. Thus, the employees feels great amount of stress at the workplace
(Hershfield, Cohen and Thompson,2012).
Principles to avoid the unethical behavior at the workplace
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The work behavior of the employees gets affected in many circumstances in which the
female colleague is being discriminated from the male colleague. They adopt the unethical
behavior in order to make her fell bad adopt different actions that causes the mental stress
directly or indirectly to her (Case study. 2016). For the purpose to avoid it, there are respective
principles which are practiced in order to avoid the unethical behavior of the individual at the
workplace. The unethical behavior of the individual. The major principles which are associated
with the case stated above are discussed underneath:
Create a code of conduct: With the creation of the written code of conduct the
employees and managers will have the clear image of the type of behavior they need to adopt
while working within the organization. It also outlines the behavior that will not be acceptable
within the work culture (Biswas, 2013). Simultaneously, proper measure are taken if any
employee violates the code of conduct which is followed in the organization. This will helps in
enhancing the overall performance of the organization and help in the sustainable development
of them. For instance: the code of conduct of the organization consist of the rules that are defined
by them in order to punish the employees if they are found practicing the unethical behavior at
the workplace.
Lead by example: The employees follow their bosses and employers as their role ideals
and make their working in accordance to the behavior they have learned form them. It is
necessary that the employers and the owners lead by examples (Majali, 2013). As the business
owner, they need to make the ethics based decisions so that they are followed by the employees
in an effectual form. Through this, they would monitor the individual performance and help them
to achieve the core values that are associated with the organization. This will help in determining
the exact performance aspects of the employees that are working in the firm to attain the specific
goals.
Reinforce Consequences: The business owner has the responsibility to monitor and hold
on the entire working of the employees in his hand. All of them are accountable when they
practice the unethical behavior at the workplace. With the start up of the working of the new
employees they are made to work as per the rules that are stated at the time of the orientations
sessions (Gibson, Hassan and Tansey, 2013). The employee are required to work as per the
guidance and have to strictly follow the code of conduct. If in any circumstance they adopt the
unethical behavior , the company has the liability to terminate or warn the employee who is
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found guilty for the unethical behavior practice. For instance: Passing the comments at the
female colleagues will not be encouraged as per the code of conduct and the firm has the liability
to fire the personal from the work if he or she have practiced the unethical behavior.
Hire for values:While hiring the individual for the organization, the major concerned
perspective for the business owner is to hire the best person. They identify the proper qualities
that fit them in the work frame of the firm (Davenport, 2013). They seek to bring the personal
who is educated and experiences to work in the present work culture with the dynamic spirit.
This will prove their skills, ability and capabilities to handle the task in an effectual form.
Through this, they are able to hire the best among the all and ensure that employees does not
adopt the unethical behavior which affect the entire working of the organization. Hence, the
entire workforce will help in attaining the core values of the business.
Show employees appreciation: Those employees which are employed in the enterprise
should be loyal against the values that are stated by their employer. With the proper appreciation
the hard work of the employees need to remarked so that they feel as they are the important asset
for the organization. For the remarkable performance they must been shown with the proper
appreciation for work well done on the regular basis (Aguinis, Joo and Gottfredson, 2013). This
will encourage the loyalty of the employees towards the company objectives and values. For
instance: the employees can be rewards with the extra perks and incentives for the ethical
behavior at the workplace and for managing the work in an effectual form. Hence, the employees
feel appreciated for the work they are performing at the workplace and attain the greater heights
in the career.
Create checks and balances: With the creation of the proper framework, the
responsibilities must be pass on in an systematic form to all the employees (Mahlke and et.al.,
2014). Through this, effective system is created the check and balances the different aspects and
minimize the opportunities to avoid the unethical behavior practices that can be performed in
business. The work shall be provided as per the potential so that it does not lead to misconduct
behavior of the employees. This will help in creating the proper balance between the entire job
roles without practicing the unethical behavior.
Confidentiality: All the different aspect which are associated with the employees that are
engaged into the respective activities in the organization must be kept confidential so that the
other employees does not make the misuse of the information (Hershfield, Cohen and
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Thompson, 2012). Through this, the entire information is being stored in proper form. This will
help in avoiding the unethical behavior at the workplace. Thus, this will reduce the chances of
increase in the wrongful practice of the employees. For instance: organization must not discuss
the personal problems of the employees with the other employees it must be kept confidential so
that the other employees does not practice the unethical behavior.
Consideration of the different aspects to increase the sustainability of the organization
Along with the follow of these principles, the organization need to consider some other
aspects so that they are able to grow as per the set work standards within the workplace and
manage it in an effective form. With the proper evaluation of the performance of the individual,
the work will be managed in a significant from through which the organization would be able to
analyze the potentiality of the employees by managing the work in an significant manner against
the payoff that is provided to them (White, MacDonnell and Ellard, 2012). This helps in
bringing the modernization in the work culture. The new agenda related to the work will be
adopted in an effective form through which the organization would be able to meet the
challenges and drive the working in accordance to the set principles and objectives. With the
adoption of the different principles the employees follow the effectual behavior through which
the work is carried out in an proficient form and sustainability within the work culture is
attained through considering the following aspects that are stated below:
 Identify relevant facts: With the identification of the relevant facts and figures, the
policies and procedures and guidelines must be provided so that the employees are able to
practice the ethical behavior and manage the entire working in an effectual form.
Through this, the role of the employees will be sorted in an effective way (Coghlan and
Brannick, 2014).
 Identify affected parties: With the proper identification of the affected parties, the
personnel department shall be formed up were the individual can provide their complaints
in relation to the unethical behavior which is being practiced by their colleagues. Due to
which are are encountering mental stress and affecting the overall performance at the
workplace. This will induce the wrong impact over the behavioral aspect of the individual
at the workplace. What should be involved in the resolution: With the proper involvement of the
business owners all the aspects are considered in an effectual way to determine the
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solution in relation to the aspects that leads to the unethical behavior that may be
practiced at the workplace (Den Hartog and Belschak, 2012).
Other ways to enhance the ethical behavior at the workplace
With the modernization in the business, organization require the proper process so that
the work is managed in an effectual form. Through this,the entire ethics are are being followed
within the work structure that is defined in order to carry out the several operations (Benn,
Dunphy and Griffiths, 2014). It can be stated that modern business unit helps in redesigning the
core purpose which is associated with the business through which the workforce are guided to
manage the work in an systematic form (Davenport, 2013). Along with, the particular
organization is able to design the entire market in the form of specification which is required by
the entire business unit. This helps in bringing the modernization in the work culture.
With the ethical value determination, the modern business will attain the effective
growth. This will help in managing the work in an significant form. Moreover, corporation needs
to undertake effectual measures within the suitable time frame through which unethical behavior
of the personnel can easily be avoided. Thus, manager of business unit requires to offer
additional benefits to their personnel for the work which is performed by them after the standard
timing hours (Epstein and Buhovac, 2014). Through this, organization is able to encourage their
employees to give their best efforts for the well-being of firm. Along with it, business
organization also needs to organize activities which helps them in motivating the workforce.
Through this, business entity can reduce the unethical practices to the large extent which are
prevailed within the organization. Hence, this help in developing the ethical behavior among the
workforce that are employed at the workplace.
CONCLUSION
From the present report, it can be concluded that the effective implementation of the
various decisions result into the sustainable development of the particular company. Through
this, the change are brought up so that the need of the individual are developed in an systematic
form. This helps in catering the large number of customers groups that plays an significant role
in the overall sustainability of the business unit. Hence, it can be concluded that with the
corporation of the effective strategy the work is carried out in an effectual and efficient form.
This will help in enhancing the overall performance of the organization that adopt the innovation
schemes to bring modernization that has good worth in the business environment. Thus, the work
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will be carried out in a smooth form with the effective follow up of the ethical principles in
relation to the work.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aguinis, H., Joo, H. and Gottfredson, R.K., 2013. What monetary rewards can and cannot do:
How to show employees the money. Business Horizons. 56(2). pp.241-249.
Benn, S., Dunphy, D. and Griffiths, A., 2014. Organizational change for corporate
sustainability. Routledge.
Biswas, A.E., 2013. Whose Code of Conduct Matters Most? Examining the Link Between
Academic Integrity and Student Development. Journal of College and Character. 14(3).
pp.267-274.
Coghlan, D. and Brannick, T., 2014. Doing action research in your own organization. Sage.
Davenport, T.H., 2013. Thinking for a living: how to get better performances and results from
knowledge workers. Harvard Business Press.
Den Hartog, D.N. and Belschak, F.D., 2012. Work engagement and Machiavellianism in the
ethical leadership process. Journal of Business Ethics. 107(1). pp.35-47.
Epstein, M.J. and Buhovac, A.R., 2014. Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing
and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler
Publishers.
Gibson, B., Hassan, S. and Tansey, J., 2013. Sustainability assessment: criteria and processes.
Routledge.
Hershfield, H.E., Cohen, T.R. and Thompson, L., 2012. Short horizons and tempting situations:
Lack of continuity to our future selves leads to unethical decision making and behavior.
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 117(2). pp.298-310.
Mahlke, and et.al., 2014. Peer support in mental health services. Current opinion in psychiatry.
27(4). pp.276-281.
Majali, S.I., 2013. Ethics and Leadership: Integration or Disharmony. ARMY WAR COLLEGE
CARLISLE BARRACKS PA.
Moore, C. and Gino, F., 2015. Approach, ability, aftermath: A psychological process framework
of unethical behavior at work. The Academy of Management Annals. 9(1). pp.235-289.
White, K., MacDonnell, R. and Ellard, J.H., 2012. Belief in a just world: Consumer intentions
and behaviors toward ethical products. Journal of Marketing. 76(1). pp.103-118.
Online
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Case study. 2016. [Online]. Available through : <
http://www.icaew.com/~/media/corporate/files/technical/ethics/ethical%20case
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[Accesses on 19th March, 2016].
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<http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/HR-Administration/Workplace-Ethics/Common-Reasons-
for-Unethical-Behavior/>. [Accesses on 19th March, 2016].
Wolfe, M. 2016. What are the causes of unethical behavior in the workplace?. [Online].
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