Most people who begin their working career have aspirations of excelling at their job and reaching the pinnacle of their profession while maintaining a sense of values; however, employees often become blind with ambition and put aside their sense of ethics in order to obtain financial security and recognition for their efforts. In the third section of E.J. Trunfio's Enhancing Ethics in Business, several executives of large companies discuss the factors that lead to employees' dismissal of ethics and virtues and it can be avoided.
People need to feel appreciated for a job well done and rewarded for hard work. When employees are not rewarded for their efforts and are passed over for a promotion because they do not know the right people, they become frustrated and begin to think only of themselves and ignore others within the organization. People begin to view their work an environment as a political system and think to get ahead they must play the political game.
Detail of The School of Athens by Raffaello Sanzio...
Ethical Society of St. Louis Building Front View
The Virtue of SelfishnessOne executive says this, " . . . means playing dirty pool. It means blaming others, even if they don't deserve to be blamed. It means doing anything it takes when your boss tells you to get the job done. Selfishness becomes a way of life in corporations. If you want to succeed, you play the game" (P 102). This selfishness and playing of "games" leads to mistrust among employees and a complete breakdown of moral behavior.
Similarly, if people cannot trust their fellow employees, a sense of insecurity fills the office. They begin to look out only for themselves and refuse to help others. Also, they often reject the help of others for fear that the other person may be out to sabotage them or simply is not capable of completing the task. This creates more...