Discuss the different factors influencing ethical behavior at the workplace.

Introduction

Ethical behavior is that accepted as morally "good" and "right," as opposed to "bad" or "wrong," in a particular setting. Is it ethical to hide information that might discourage a job candidate from joining your organization? Is it ethical to ask someone to take a job you know will not be good for his or her career progress? Is it ethical to ask so much of someone that they continually have to choose between "having a 'career' and having a 'life'?" The list of questions can go further more, but an important point remains: The public is increasingly demanding that people in organizations and the organizations themselves all act in accordance with high ethical and moral standards. The purpose of ethics in business is to direct business men and women to abide by a code of conduct that facilitates, if not encourages, public confidence in their products and services.

Ethical Society of St. Louis Building Front View

Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board

Ethical Theory and Moral Practice

But what is considered ethical behavior may depend on the factors that define and affect ethical behavior. These factors may be personal factors or organizational factors or environmental factors.

1) Personal factors

1.1) Family

Can ethics be taught? At some point in life, ethics must be taught. People are not born with innate desires to be ethical or to be concerned with the welfare of others. The role of the family includes teaching children a code of ethical behavior that includes respect for parents, siblings, and others. The family bears chief responsibility for ensuring that children will receive the necessary education and moral guidance to become productive members of society. The basic values such as honesty, self-control, concern for others, respect for legitimate authority, fidelity, and civility must be passed from one generation to the next, a fundamental process of the family. The breakdown of the family is associated with...