Abstract

Those who are in business today may be subject to more ethical scrutiny than at

any other time in the past. Whether it be the greed compelled actions of CEOs of

large businesses such as Enron or World Com, their accountants and attorneys,

the inappropriate sexual behaviors of leaders of the church, teachers and

parents, the actions and omissions of the wealthy and popular such as Martha

Stewart and the personal and public decisions of Presidents Clinton, Nixon and

George Bush, the public’s scrutiny of the ethical behaviors of all of us are now

under the microscope. As a result, it is important to consider in advance a proper

set of acceptable moral and ethical principals, which apply to business decisions

and behavior in the workplace, to maintain the trust of the public and to avoid

both civil and criminal sanctions. This paper will explore the history of ethics and,

more particularly, business ethics, and address its application to the business of

its writer, an employee’s wife of the local Fire Department.

Ethics play a large role in our lives and in business. Ethics is to know

what is right or wrong morally and business ethics is to know what is right

or wrong within the workplace. Ethics can be dated back to the beginning of

time and have continued to evolve up until the present day. Ethics relate to

values such as honesty, integrity and fairness. An organization or business

should have an ethics statement; it defines the accepted behaviors and

values for that organization. In having an ethics statement, a business can

define accepted behaviors and values, promotes high standards of practice,

and establish a framework of professional behavior. There are also ethical

dilemmas that are presented to any business trying to establish an ethics

statement and, more specifically, to the local fire department. There is a

reputation and image that the local fire department must maintain.

Research Paper:

Defining Business Ethics

Ethics, also called moral philosophy, is defined as "the discipline

concerned with what is morally good and bad, right and wrong. The term is

also applied to any system or theory of moral values or principles."

(Britannica, 2005). Business ethics is an extension of ethics, as defined

above and means to know what is right or wrong within the workplace.

Ethics deals with many different questions and the "fundamental issues of

practical decision making, and its major concerns include the nature of

ultimate value and the standards by which human actions can be judged right

or wrong." (Britannica, 2005). Some of the questions we might ask in

relation to ethics could be: "How should we live? Shall we aim at happiness

or at knowledge, virtue, or the creation of beautiful objects? If we choose

happiness, will it be our own or the happiness of all? And what of the more

particular questions that face us: Is it right to be dishonest in a good

cause? Can we justify living in opulence while elsewhere in the world people
are starving? If conscripted to fight in a war we do not support, should we

disobey the law? What are our obligations to the other creatures with whom

we share this planet and to the generations of humans who will come after

us?" (Britannica, 2005).

"The terms ethics and morality are closely related. We now often refer to

ethical judgments or ethical principles where it once would have been more

common to speak of moral judgments or moral principles. These applications

are an extension of the meaning of ethics. Strictly speaking, however, the

term refers not to morality itself but to the field of study, or branch of

inquiry, that has morality as its subject matter. In this sense, ethics is

equivalent to moral philosophy." (Britannica, 2005).

Ethics is largely viewed as a branch of philosophy, however it is also

linked to many other areas of study, including theology, politics,

sociology, history and biology, to name a few. "Yet, ethics remains distinct

from such disciplines because it is not a matter of factual knowledge in the

way that the sciences and other branches of inquiry are. Rather, it has to

do with determining the nature of normative theories and applying these sets

of principles to practical moral problems." (Britannica, 2005).

History of Business Ethics

How did ethics originate? Where and when did it begin? Ethics came into

existence when we (humans) began to reflect on the best way to live and best

way to develop standards of morality, of right and wrong behavior.

Business ethics can be dated back to the beginning of time from the first

time someone traded or sold something. Ethics in business is the application

of moral or ethical norms. The Ten Commandments were possibly the first

ethics guide recorded. Its teaching of truthfulness and honesty, as well as

the prohibition of thieving and envy, can be found in business ethics today.

Business ethics started to gain notice before the 60’s when religious

scholars and leaders often discussed business ethical questions. During that

time the questions arose about fair wages, labor practices and the morality

of capitalism.

"The 1960’s began the rise of social issues in business." (History of

Business Ethics, 2005). Consumer activists came together as individuals and

groups to protect their right as consumers. In 1965, President Kennedy wrote

the "Consumer Bill Of Rights" which prompted business to begin developing

ethics policy studies, as they were concerned for their public image. This

movement continued in the 70’s when many ethics questions were brought to

life in business practices by the activities of price fixing and false

advertising. Bribes and such became known to the public by exposure from the

news sources. The 80’s corporations began to accept business ethics as part

of their corporate structure. Since the early 1990’s businesses have been

expanding and spreading worldwide. As such, the United States Government has

stepped in to lead the way with ethics laws and guidance to take us into the

twenty-first century.
Why an Organization/Business Should Have an Ethics Statement

An organization or business should have an ethics statement; it defines the

accepted behaviors and values. The ethic statement can clarify the mission

values and principles of an organization, and links them with standards of

professional conduct. In other words, it serves as a communication vehicle

that "reflects the covenant that an organization has made to uphold its most

important values, dealing with such matters as its commitment to employees,

its standards, and its relationship with the community" (Driscoll, 2000).

An ethics statement promotes high standards of practice and serves as "a

benchmark for members to use for self-evaluation." (Life Skills Coaches

Association of BC, 2005). A well-written statement can help cover the areas

that are not written in policy, procedures, regulations, and other

guidelines. For example, Dr. Gaumnitz and Dr. Lere note that most workers

would probably agree that it is important to stay with the most current

principles and procedures to maintain a high professional standard, but some

workers might not be too concerned in this area. A statement of keeping

current in the profession might provide guidance that would affect their

decision-making. The intent of the ethic statement is to compliment the

standards, policies, and rules--not replace them.

An ethics statement establishes a framework of professional behavior. In

2002, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that turned prior unethical

practices in the corporate world into criminal offenses. Although this act
focused on controlling accounting and trading business, it was motivated by

corrupt practices that could apply in most organizations. Its purpose was to

promote honest and ethical behavior in the handling of conflicts between

personal and professional relationships, and compliance to applicable

governmental rules and regulations. Since no two organizations are alike,

every company should create their own codes or statements that promote the

professional ethics culture deemed essential to practice in their business.

Another reason for creating an ethics statement is that it demonstrates

occupational maturity. In the past decade there has been a strong focus on

business ethics. Recently, the media has focused on the unlawful and

unethical practices of large business scandals such as the Tyco, Enron, and

Martha Stewart cases. The public is able to view how organizations are

practicing their businesses and, as such, they have become more selective in

who they do business with. The organizations that will survive the best are

the ones that understand this fact and scrutinize their own ethics culture.

Updating with current education and practices is vital in developing trust

from the stakeholders of each business. Having a well-written and obtainable

ethics statement is one piece to the puzzle in keeping the ethics culture of

a business intact. While a written business ethics statement does not ensure

good ethics practice, it can show that the organization is making an effort

to keep current on ethics principles. Actions speak louder than words, but

it may start with a business ethic statement.

 How an Ethics Statement Relates to our Local Fire Department

Defining the Customer

When people define customers in the corporate world, they usually think of

shareholders, or any group of people that are involved in bringing revenue

to that company. In the Anchorage Fire Department, the customers are simply

citizens of Anchorage, Eagle River, or anyone who falls within the

Municipality of Anchorage that receives services such as fire protection of

life and property, emergency medical services, rescue from natural disasters

and accidents, or any other public service as directed. Through property

taxes, customers pay for these services and are obligated to receive them.

Customers have an expectation of receiving assistance with these services if

they call 911. Although this may be simple and clear to most, it is

important to understand that a written ethics statement is essential to

clarify the ethics and values of the department, and to instill and maintain

trust in these customers.

Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas

Members of the local fire department have unique access to private information

pertaining to the citizens of Anchorage that few other professions encounter.

They enter the homes of their customers during times of crisis, and must

maintain a professional demeanor while providing their services. The last thing

these customers would want to worry about is whether or not a fire department
member will steal a possession, release private information, or violate their

privacy. A breach of trust in these would damage the integrity and

reputation of the whole department. Only a department with an impeccable

ethical reputation could survive even a false accusation with minimal

impact. All steps should be taken to maintain the public image currently

exhibited by the local fire department.

Maintaining the Public Image

The ethical reputation and image that local fire department members possess

have a huge impact on the high turnout for recruitment, as well as their abilities to

acquire

the necessary equipment needed to perform their job more safely. Members of

the local fire department are seen around the city, both on and off duty,

continually involved

in fund-raisers, helping people throughout the state, reading for children

in schools, station tours, etc. They are one of a few occupations that

parents/guardians trust their children to approach in a time of need.

Children are often taught early in life that it is fine to speak to

firefighters. The trust placed on local fire department members should never be

taken for granted, though it is human nature to do so. Since the terrorist attack on

September 11, 2001, Public Service workers have been treated with an

increased appreciation and respect from the public Let’s hope the public
never takes the local fire department members for granted. Hard work and

upgrading the ethical culture of an organization is a good starting point that

should begin with an ethics statement.

End of Paper