Introduction to Government Business Ethics, Risk Management & Internal

Control

Filipino Value Systems in Business

- A value system refers to a set of beliefs, principles, and priorities that an individual or a group
holds, which guide their attitudes, behaviors, and decision-making processes. These values can
be influenced by various factors such as culture, religion, upbringing, education, and personal
experiences.
- Value systems play a crucial role in shaping individual identities and societal structures. They
influence how people prioritize their goals, make decisions, interact with others, and interpret
the world around them. Understanding one's own values and respecting the values of others is
essential for effective communication, collaboration, and social cohesion.

VALUE SYSTEM
Bahala Na

- "Bahala na" is a Filipino phrase that can be translated to "whatever will be, will be" or
"leave it to fate" in English. It encapsulates a mindset of accepting whatever outcome
may come, often in situations where one feels a lack of control or certainty.
Ex.
When faced with a tough decision, someone might use "bahala na" to signify
their acceptance of whatever consequences may arise from their choice,
trusting that things will work out as they should.

Debt of Gratitude

- "Debt of gratitude" refers to a feeling or sense of obligation one feels toward someone
who has helped or supported them in some way, often implying that the person owes a
favor or appreciation in return. It's a metaphorical way of expressing that one feels
deeply thankful for another person's kindness or assistance.
Ex.
When someone has helped you significantly, you may feel a debt of
gratitude toward them and seek opportunities to repay their kindness, whether through
offering help in return, expressing appreciation, or doing something thoughtful for
them.

Ningas Cogon

- It describes a behavior where someone starts something with enthusiasm or fervor but
quickly loses interest or fails to follow through. It's comparable to the English phrase
"flash in the pan" or "all talk and no action."
- It highlights the tendency for some individuals to show initial bursts of enthusiasm or
passion but struggle to sustain that energy and commitment over the long term.
Ex.
Someone might enthusiastically begin a project, such as starting a new business
venture or pursuing a hobby, but lose interest or abandon it shortly afterward without
seeing it through to completion.
Ex.
In romantic relationships or friendships, one might initially show strong interest
and enthusiasm but then gradually lose interest or stop putting effort into maintaining
the relationship.
Padrino System

- The "padrino system" refers to a cultural or social practice, often found in certain
societies or organizations, where individuals or groups with influence or power provide
support, protection, or favors to those who are considered their protégés or
beneficiaries. The term "padrino" originates from Spanish and Italian, meaning
"godfather" or "patron."
- Padrino system can provide benefits such as access to resources or opportunities, it can
also perpetuate inequality, favoritism, and corruption by reinforcing dependency on
personal connections rather than merit or qualifications.
Ex.
In politics, influential figures may act as padrinos by providing support,
endorsements, or resources to candidates or politicians in exchange for loyalty, favors,
or political influence. This can lead to a network of patron-client relationships where
favors are exchanged for support and loyalty.
Ex.
In educational institutions, students or scholars may seek the support of
influential professors or mentors who can provide guidance, opportunities for research
or publication, or recommendations for further education or employment.

Manana Habit

- The "mañana habit" originates from Spanish and translates to "tomorrow habit" in
English. It refers to a tendency to procrastinate or put off tasks, often with the intention
of completing them at a later time or date. The phrase implies a habit of delaying
responsibilities or actions, leading to a lack of urgency or efficiency in getting things
done.
- Procrastination is a common behavior that many people experience from time to time,
the mañana habit refers to a more chronic and ingrained tendency to consistently
postpone tasks, leading to negative consequences for productivity, efficiency, and
overall well-being.
Ex.
Someone might continually postpone important tasks, such as paying bills,
completing assignments, or addressing urgent matters, under the assumption that they
can be done later without immediate consequences.
Ex.
Individuals may procrastinate on tasks that are challenging, overwhelming, or
unpleasant, preferring to postpone them until later rather than facing them head-on.

Armor Propio

- "Amor propio" is a Spanish term that translates to "self-love" or "self-respect" in English.

It refers to the regard and esteem that individuals have for themselves, encompassing a
positive sense of self-worth, dignity, and appreciation for one's own value as a person.
- Amor propio is an important aspect of emotional well-being and resilience, as it
provides individuals with a solid foundation of self-worth, confidence, ad inner strength
to navigate life's challenges and pursue their goals and aspirations with authenticity and
resilience.
Ex.
People who prioritize amor propio engage in self-care activities that nurture
their physical, emotional, and mental health, such as exercise, meditation, spending
time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, and seeking therapy or counseling when
needed.
 Ex.
Individuals with amor propio are able to express their thoughts, feelings, and
opinions confidently and assertively, without diminishing their own worth or seeking
validation from others.

Delicadeza

- "Delicadeza" is a Spanish term that is used in Filipino culture to describe a sense of

propriety, decency, or sensitivity to social norms and expectations. It encompasses
principles of etiquette, decorum, and integrity in one's actions and behavior towards
others.
- Delicadeza is an important cultural value in Filipino society, emphasizing the importance
of behaving with integrity, respect, and consideration for others in both personal and
professiaonal settings.

Ex.
Delicadeza often involves upholding principles of honesty and integrity, such as
being truthful, keeping promises, and acting with sincerity and transparency in personal
and professional relationships.
Ex.
In the workplace, delicadeza entails adhering to ethical standards and
professional conduct, avoiding conflicts of interest, nepotism, favoritism, or other
actions that may compromise fairness or impartiality.

Shame

- "Shame" refers to a painful emotion that arises from a sense of embarrassment, guilt, or
disgrace about one's actions, behavior, or perceived shortcomings. It involves a negative
evaluation of oneself and can stem from both internal self-criticism and external
judgment from others.
- Shame is a natural and universal emotion, excessive or chronic feelings of shame can be
detrimental to mental health and well-being.

Ex.
When individuals make mistakes or experience failures, they may feel ashamed
of their perceived inadequacies or shortcomings, leading to feelings of guilt,
embarrassment, or self-blame.
Ex.
Experiencing rejection, criticism, or judgment from others can trigger feelings of
shame, as individuals may internalize negative perceptions or beliefs about themselves
based on others' opinions or actions.

Loyalty

- Loyalty refers to a strong sense of commitment, allegiance, or devotion to someone or

something. It implies faithfulness, reliability, and steadfast support, often in the face of
challenges or adversity.
- Loyalty is a fundamental aspect of human relationships and social cohesion, fostering
trust, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging.

Ex.
In friendships, romantic partnerships, and familial bonds, loyalty involves being
there for each other through thick and thin, offering support, understanding, and
unconditional love.
 Ex.
In the workplace, loyalty entails dedication to one's employer, colleagues, or
team. It involves putting forth effort, contributing to the organization's success, and
upholding its values and objectives.

Family Orientation

- "Family orientation" refers to the degree to which an individual's priorities, values, and
behaviors are centered around their family and familial relationships.
- It encompasses a strong sense of attachment, commitment, and involvement with one's
family members and the family unit as a whole.
- Family orientation reflects a deep-seated commitment to the welfare, happiness, and
unity of one's family, serving as a guiding principle in shaping individuals' relationships,
choices, and priorities throughout their lives.

Ex.
Individuals with a strong family orientation prioritize spending time with their
family members and make efforts to nurture familial bonds through shared activities,
meals, celebrations, and quality time together.
Ex.
People with a family-oriented mindset offer support, assistance, and emotional
comfort to their family members during times of need, whether it's providing financial
help, offering advice, or simply being there to listen and offer encouragement.

Hospitality

- Hospitality refers to the warm, welcoming, and generous treatment of guests or visitors.
It involves extending kindness, generosity, and hospitality to others, often in the context
of hosting or entertaining guests in one's home or establishment.
- Hospitality is a universal value that transcends cultures and societies, embodying the
spirit of generosity, kindness, and goodwill towards others.
Ex.
Hospitality involves being attentive to the needs and preferences of guests and
anticipating what they might require to enhance their experience.
Ex.
Hospitality extends beyond physical comforts to creating a welcoming and inviting
atmosphere for guests.

Joy and Humor

- Joy and humor are two interconnected aspects of human experience that bring
lightness, happiness, and laughter into our lives.
- Joy refers to a deep-seated feeling of happiness and contentment.
- Humor involves the ability to find amusement, laughter, and levity in situations, often
through wit, comedy, or playful banter.
- Sharing moments of joy and laughter with others strengthens bonds and fosters
connections. Humor can serve as a powerful tool for breaking the ice, easing tension,
and building rapport in social interactions.
 - Both joy and humor have been linked to improved mental and emotional well-being.
Laughter releases endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals, which can reduce
stress, boost mood, and enhance overall happiness and resilience.

Faith and Religiosity

- Faith and religiosity are intertwined concepts that relate to an individual's beliefs,
practices, and spiritual orientation.
- Faith refers to a deep-seated trust, confidence, or belief in something beyond oneself,
often encompassing belief in a higher power, divine presence, or spiritual reality.
- Religiosity refers to the degree of adherence, involvement, and commitment to religious
beliefs, practices, rituals, and institutions within a specific religious tradition or
community.

Ability to Survive

- The ability to survive refers to an individual's capacity to endure, persevere, and adapt
in challenging or adverse circumstances, enabling them to overcome obstacles, threats,
or crises and emerge resiliently.
- It encompasses a combination of resilience, adaptability, resourcefulness, preparedness,
and social support, as well as inner strength, determination, and mindset.
Ex.
Ability to bounce back from setbacks, adversity, or trauma.
Ex.
Survivors are adaptable and able to adjust to changing circumstances, environments,
and conditions. They are resourceful problem-solvers who can think creatively and flexibly to
meet their needs and navigate obstacles.

Hard work and Industry

- They are both refer to the diligent effort, perseverance, and dedication that individuals
apply towards achieving their goals, whether in personal, professional, or academic
pursuits.
- They are also foundational qualities that contribute to success, achievement, and
fulfillment in life. It reflect a commitment to excellence, a willingness to persevere
through challenges, and a drive to make the most of one's abilities and opportunities.
Ex.
Individuals who are known for their hard work and industry are often recognized and
rewarded for their achievements in the workplace.
Ex.
Students who demonstrate hard work and industry in their studies typically excel
academically, earning high grades, academic honors, or scholarships. They are willing to put in
the extra effort to master challenging subjects, complete assignments, and pursue academic
goals.

Filipino Time
 - A cultural concept prevalent in Philippine society that refers to the tendency for events,
meetings, or gatherings to start later than the scheduled time.
- It reflects a relaxed attitude towards punctuality and a cultural norm where it is
acceptable for people to arrive a bit later than the agreed-upon time.
Ex.
Public events such as concerts, conferences, or public gatherings may begin later than
advertised due to the cultural acceptance of tardiness. Attendees may adjust their arrival time
accordingly, expecting a delay in the program.
Ex.
In business or professional contexts, meetings, appointments, or deadlines may be
subject to "Filipino time," with participants arriving a few minutes or even an hour late. This can
sometimes lead to inefficiencies and delays in decision-making or project completion.

Ethical Issues In Business Environment

Workplace Sexual Harassment
Workplace sexual harassment refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects an individual's
employment, interferes with their work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or
offensive work environment.
It can manifest in various forms, including but not limited to:
Verbal harassment: Inappropriate comments, jokes, or conversations of a sexual nature.
Non-verbal harassment: Gestures, leering, or sexually suggestive body language.
Physical harassment: Unwanted touching, hugging, kissing, or other physical advances.
Visual harassment: Displaying sexually explicit images or objects in the workplace.

Strategies for Prevention

1. Develop and communicate a comprehensive sexual harassment policy.
2. Conduct regular training sessions for all employees to educate them about what constitutes
sexual harassment
3. Foster a workplace culture that values diversity, inclusion, and mutual respect.
4. Establish clear and confidential procedures for reporting incidents of sexual harassment.
5. Offer support resources such as counseling services or employee assistance programs for
individuals who have experienced sexual harassment.

Just Wage
The concept of a "just wage" has been debated for centuries and can vary depending on
cultural, economic, and philosophical perspectives. At its core, a just wage is often considered
to be a compensation that provides workers with a fair and equitable remuneration for their
labor, enabling them to meet their basic needs and maintain a decent standard of living.
The determination of a just wage requires a balancing of economic efficiency, social
equity, and ethical considerations. While there may be disagreements about the specifics of
how to calculate and implement a just wage, the overarching goal is to ensure that workers are
compensated fairly for their labor and can lead dignified lives.

Gifts and Bribery

 The morality of accepting gifts can vary depending on the context, the intentions behind
the gift-giving, and any potential conflicts of interest. While receiving gifts is often a common
and socially accepted practice, there are ethical considerations to keep in mind, particularly in
professional or institutional settings where there may be concerns about influence, bias, or the
appearance of impropriety.
Accepting gifts is often a common practice, it's important to consider the ethical
implications and potential conflicts of interest. Practicing transparency, exercising discretion,
and adhering to organizational policies can help ensure that gift acceptance is conducted in an
ethical manner that upholds integrity, impartiality, and trustworthiness.

Conflict of Interest
Accepting gifts is often a common practice, it's important to consider the ethical
implications and potential conflicts of interest. Practicing transparency, exercising discretion,
and adhering to organizational policies can help ensure that gift acceptance is conducted in an
ethical manner that upholds integrity, impartiality, and trustworthiness.
A common challenge in various spheres of life, and managing them effectively requires
careful attention, transparency, and adherence to ethical principles.
Ex.
In professional settings, conflicts of interest can arise when individuals have competing
obligations or loyalties that may influence their decision-making. For example, a physician who
receives financial compensation from a pharmaceutical company may face a conflict of interest
when prescribing medications, as their financial incentives may bias their treatment decisions.

Abuse of Power
Abuse of power occurs when individuals in positions of authority or influence misuse
their power to exploit or harm others for personal gain, control, or gratification. Preventing
abuse of power requires a combination of structural safeguards, accountability mechanisms,
and cultural norms that promote ethical behavior and respect for others.
Preventing abuse of power requires a collective effort that involves leadership
commitment, employee engagement, and ongoing vigilance to uphold ethical standards and
protect the rights and dignity of all individuals within the organization.
Ways to Prevent It
1. Establish clear policies, codes of conduct, and ethical guidelines that define acceptable
behavior and expectations for those in positions of power.
2. Provide comprehensive training and education to individuals in positions of power, as well as
to employees at all levels of the organization.
3. Foster a culture of transparency and accountability where actions and decisions are subject
to scrutiny and oversight.

Labor Strikes
A labor strike, often referred to simply as a strike, is a collective action taken by a group
of workers to protest against their employer or employers, typically in response to unresolved
grievances or disputes over working conditions, wages, benefits, or other labor-related issues.
Strikes are a fundamental tool used by labor unions and workers to exert pressure on emploers
and negotiate better terms of employment.
It is used by workers to assert their collective bargaining rights, demand fair treatment
and better working conditions, and advocate for their interests in the workplace.
Whistle Blowing
Whistleblowing is the act of exposing or disclosing information about unethical, illegal,
or unsafe practices within an organization, typically to authorities, the media, or the public.
Whistleblowers are individuals who witness wrongdoing or misconduct in their
workplace and choose to speak out about it, often at great personal risk.
Whistleblowing can take various forms, including reporting fraud, corruption,
discrimination, harassment, safety violations, environmental pollution, or other unethical
behavior.

Types of Whistleblowing
Internal Whistleblowing: Reporting misconduct or wrongdoing within the organization,
typically to supervisors, managers, or internal compliance departments.
External Whistleblowing: Reporting misconduct to external entities, such as government
agencies, law enforcement authorities, regulatory bodies, the media, or advocacy
organizations.

Recruitment of Candidates
Recruitment of candidates refers to the process of attracting, sourcing, evaluating, and
selecting individuals to fill job vacancies within an organization. Effective recruitment is
essential for building a talented and diverse workforce that can contribute to the organization's
success.
Effective recruitment requires careful planning, clear communication, and a
commitment to finding and attracting the best talent to meet the needs of the organization.

Key Steps involved in the recruitment process:

Identify Hiring Needs: The first step in recruitment is to identify the staffing needs of the
organization.
Develop Job Descriptions: Once hiring needs are identified, job descriptions and specifications
are created to outline the requirements and expectations for each role.
Attract Candidates: Organizations use various methods to attract potential candidates,
including job postings on online job boards, company websites, social media platforms, and
professional networking sites.
Screen Applications: Once applications are received, recruiters screen and review resumes and
cover letters to identify candidates who meet the requirements outlined in the job descriptions.
Conduct Interviews: Qualified candidates are invited to participate in interviews to further
assess their suitability for the position.
Evaluate Candidates: Throughout the recruitment process, recruiters and hiring managers
evaluate candidates based on criteria such as skills, experience, qualifications, cultural fit, and
potential for success within the organization.
Extend Job Offers: Once a suitable candidate is identified, the organization extends a job offer
outlining the terms and conditions of employment, including salary, benefits, start date, and
any other relevant details
Onboarding: After the candidate accepts the job offer, the organization begins the onboarding
process to integrate the new employee into the organization.
Continuous Improvement: Finally, organizations continuously evaluate and improve their
recruitment processes to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with organizational
goals and objectives.
Employee Promotion
Employee Promotion means the ascension of an employee to higher ranks. It involves an
increase in salary, position, responsibilities, status, and benefits. This aspect of the job drives
employees the most—the ultimate reward for dedication and loyalty towards an organization.
Employee promotion is the process of advancing an individual to a higher level or
position within an organization as recognition of their performance, skills, experience, and
potential for growth.
Promotions can take various forms, including vertical promotions (moving to a higher-
level position), horizontal promotions (moving to a different role at the same level), or diagonal
promotions (moving to a position with different responsibilities and challenges).

Employee Termination
Employee termination, also known as employment termination or dismissal, refers to
the process of ending an individual's employment relationship with an organization.
Termination can occur for various reasons, including poor performance, misconduct,
redundancy, organizational restructuring, or other legitimate business reasons. Proper handling
of employee termination is essential to ensure legal compliance, protect employee rights, and
maintain positive employer-employee relations.
Ex.
Employees are laid off if the company is downsizing, relocating, or exiting a
certain market. When someone gets fired, it implies they are being terminated due to their
performance or behavior at the workplace.

Marketing and Advertising Morality

The morality of marketing and advertising is a complex and debated topic that involves
considerations of ethics, consumer rights, societal values, and business practices. While
marketing and advertising play important roles in promoting products and services, they can
also raise ethical questions and concerns, particularly when they involve deceptive or
manipulative tactics.
It depends on adherence to ethical principles such as truthfulness, transparency, respect
for consumer autonomy, social responsibility, and compliance with legal and regulatory
standards.

Some key aspects of the morality of marketing and advertising:

Truthfulness and Transparency: Ethical marketing and advertising require honesty, accuracy,
and transparency in communication. Marketers should avoid making false or misleading claims
about their products or services and should provide clear and truthful information to
consumers.
Respect for Consumer Autonomy: Marketers should respect consumers' autonomy and right to
make informed choices. This involves avoiding coercive or manipulative tactics that exploit
consumers' vulnerabilities or pressure them into purchasing products against their will.

Protection of Vulnerable Populations: Marketing and advertising should be sensitive to the

needs and vulnerabilities of certain populations, such as children, elderly individuals, individuals
with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
Social Responsibility: Ethical marketing and advertising practices consider the broader social
and environmental impacts of promotional activities.
Respect for Privacy and Data Protection: Marketers must respect consumers' privacy rights
and comply with data protection regulations when collecting, storing, and using personal
information for advertising purposes.

Fair Pricing
Fair pricing refers to the practice of setting prices for goods or services that are
reasonable, transparent, and equitable for both consumers and producers.
Fair pricing aims to balance the interests of buyers and sellers while considering factors
such as production costs, market demand, competition, and ethical considerations.

Some examples of fair pricing practices:

Cost-Plus Pricing: This method involves determining the price of a product by adding a markup
to the cost of production. The markup covers expenses such as materials, labor, overhead, and
a reasonable profit margin. Cost-plus pricing ensures that prices reflect the actual costs
incurred by the seller and provide a fair return on investment.
Competitive Pricing: Fair pricing often involves setting prices based on market competition.
Companies analyze prices charged by competitors for similar products or services and adjust
their own prices accordingly to remain competitive. This ensures that prices are aligned with
market norms and offer consumers value relative to other options available in the marketplace.

Trade Secrets
Trade secrets are a form of intellectual property that consist of confidential information
that provides a business with a competitive advantage. Unlike patents, trademarks, or
copyrights, trade secrets are not publicly registered. Instead, they are protected through
secrecy, meaning that their value lies in being kept confidential.
Protecting trade secrets typically involves implementing strict confidentiality measures
within a company, such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with employees and partners,
restricted access to sensitive information, and physical or digital security measures to prevent
unauthorized access or disclosure.
Ex.
Recipes and Formulas: Famous examples include the Coca-Cola formula and the recipe for
KFC's original fried chicken.
Manufacturing Processes: Proprietary methods for manufacturing products efficiently and cost-
effectively, such as the process used by Intel to make computer chips.
Customer Lists and Data: Lists of clients, suppliers, or other business contacts that provide a
competitive advantage.

Product Misrepresentation
Product misrepresentation refers to the act of providing false or misleading information
about a product or service. This can occur through various means, such as deceptive
advertising, false claims, or omitting important information that could influence a consumer's
purchasing decision.
Product misrepresentation can harm consumers by leading them to make purchases
based on inaccurate or incomplete information, and it can also damage the reputation and
credibility of businesses engaging in such practices.
Ex.
False Advertising: Making exaggerated or false claims about a product's features, benefits, or
performance in advertisements. For instance, claiming that a dietary supplement can cure a
specific illness without scientific evidence to support the claim.
Hidden Fees or Charges: Failing to disclose additional fees or charges associated with a product
or service, leading consumers to believe they are paying a lower price than they actually are.

Pyramiding
The basis of the modern definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) came from
Archie Carroll's Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. In this pyramid it considered four
types of responsibilities which are actually an assortment of specific responsibilities that follow
a successive fashion but are interdependent to one another. However, due to necessity another
responsibility was added to the list. These five social responsibilities of a business are discussed
below:

Economic Responsibility
The first and most apparent is the economic responsibility to be profitable. The focus
here is on the different practices that would lead to the long term growth of the business. In
the first place businesses are created to be the livelihood of their owners.

Legal Responsibility
The second level of pyramid is the business’ legal responsibility to obey the all laws set
forth by society all the time. Comparable to individual members of the citizenry, a business also
has an obligation to follow all written and codified laws that concern its existence.

Ethical Responsibility
The third, which is directly connected to the legal responsibility, is the ethical
responsibility. That is to do what is right even when business is not obligated to do so by law.
Fair labor practices to employees in the form of equal pay for equal work and living wage
compensation initiatives is an example of this responsibility.

Environmental Responsibility
These days environmental responsibility is a must for businesses, though this is not
actually included among the responsibilities by Archie Carroll in the pyramid of CSR. Generally,
among the initiatives in sustaining the environmental endorsed by businesses are limiting
pollution and reducing greenhouse gases.

Philanthropic Responsibility
Also known as discretionary responsibility is best described by the resources donated by
companies toward social, educational, recreational and/or cultural intentions. These donated
resources could be in the form of time, money or other types of resources to charitable
organizations and other institutions at the local, countrywide or worldwide levels.

Money Laundering
Money laundering describes the practice by which criminals disguise the Original
ownership and control of the earnings of criminal activity through making such earnings seem
to have derived from a valid source. The most usual types of criminals who need to launder
money are drug traffickers, swindlers, corrupt politicians and public officials, gangsters and
kidnappers.
In general, money is laundered whenever a person or business deals in any way with
another person’s benefit from crime. That could happen in a numerous number of different
ways. Traditionally money laundering has been described as a procedure which takes place in
three different stages.
1. Placement - This is the stage at which criminally generated funds are presented in the
financial system. At this stage, the launderer introduces the dirty money into a valid financial
company. This is frequently in the form of cash bank deposits. This is the dangerous stage of the
laundering process since big amounts of cash are pretty noticeable, and banks are obligated to
report high-value transactions.
2. Layering - This is the essential stage of the procedure in which the property is “washed” and
its ownership and source is camouflaged. This includes sending money through several financial
transactions to alter its form and make it tough to follow. Layering may entail several bank-to-
bank transfers; wire transfers between diverse accounts in diverse names in diverse countries;
making deposits and withdrawals to constantly differ the quantity of money in the accounts;
changing the money’s currency; and purchasing high-value items (boats, houses, cars,
diamonds) to change the form of the money.
3.Integration - This is the final stage at which the “laundered” property is re-introduced into
the legitimate economy. At the integration stage, the money re-enters the mainstream
economy in legitimate-looking form coming from a legal transaction. This may include a final
bank transfer into the account of a local business in which the launderer is “investing” in
exchange for a cut of the profits, or the sale of a condo bought owned by the launderer.

Insider Trading
Insider trading refers to the practice of purchasing or selling a publicly-traded company’s
securities while in possession of material information that is not yet public information.
Material information refers to any and all information that may result in a substantial impact on
the decision of an investor regarding whether to buy or sell the security.
By non-public information, it means that the information is not legally out in the public
domain and that only a handful of people directly related to the information possess it. An
example of an insider may be a corporate executive or someone in government who has access
to an economic report before it is publicly released.

Ex.
Martha Stewart - Shares of ImClone took a sharp dive when it was found out that the FDA
rejected its new cancer drug. Even after such a fall in the share price, the family of CEO Samuel
Waskal seemed to be unaffected. After receiving advance notice of the rejection, Martha
Stewart sold her holdings in the company’s stock when the shares were trading in the $50
range, and the stock subsequently fell to $10 in the following months. She was forced to resign
as CEO of her company and Waskal was sentenced to more than seven years in prison and fined
$4.3 million in 2003.

Business Ethics and The Natural Environment

Justice and Sustainability
Justice and sustainability are two critical pillars of business ethics, particularly when
considering the natural environment.
Integrating justice and sustainability into business ethics involves considering the fair
treatment of all stakeholders, minimizing environmental impacts, engaging with communities,
and promoting transparency and accountability.

How these concepts intersect in CSR in the realm of business ethics?

 Many companies adopt CSR initiatives to ensure that their operations are sustainable
and contribute positively to society and the environment. This might include reducing carbon
emissions, minimizing waste production, conserving natural resources, and supporting local
communities. CSR initiatives are often seen as a way for businesses to align their interests with
broader social and environmental goals.

Causes of Environmental Problems

Industrialization and Urbanization: The rapid growth of industrial activities and urban centers
has led to increased pollution, habitat destruction, and resource depletion.
Pollution: Pollution from various sources, including industrial facilities, transportation,
agriculture, and waste disposal, poses significant threats to the environment. It includes air
pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and soil pollution.
Deforestation: Deforestation, primarily driven by agricultural expansion, logging, and
urbanization, results in the loss of forest ecosystems worldwide.
Climate Change: Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial
processes, release greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) into the
atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.

Responsibility of Business in Protecting the Environment

Businesses have a significant responsibility to protect the environment due to their
considerable impact on natural resources, ecosystems, and global environmental challenges.

Reducing Environmental Footprint: Businesses should actively work to minimize their

environmental footprint by reducing pollution, conserving natural resources, and adopting
sustainable practices throughout their operations.
Compliance with Environmental Regulations: Businesses must comply with environmental
laws, regulations, and standards set by governments and regulatory bodies. This includes
obtaining permits, monitoring emissions, and adhering to environmental management
requirements to prevent pollution and minimize negative impacts on the environment.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Businesses should assess and mitigate the
environmental impacts of their supply chains, including sourcing raw materials, manufacturing
processes, transportation, and distribution.
Investment in Renewable Energy: Businesses can play a vital role in transitioning to a low-
carbon economy by investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and
hydropower.
Environmental Education and Awareness: Businesses can promote environmental education
and awareness among employees, customers, suppliers, and communities to foster a culture of
environmental stewardship.

The Idea of A Sustainable Social Enterprises

Sustainable social enterprises are organizations that aim to address social or
environmental issues while also being economically viable and environmentally responsible.
These enterprises integrate principles of sustainability into their business models, ensuring they
not only generate profit but also contribute positively to society and the planet.

Sustainability Issue
Financial Sustainability: Balancing social or environmental objectives with financial viability can
be challenging. Sustainable social enterprises need to generate sufficient revenue to cover their
costs and invest in their mission without compromising their impact or values.
Market Demand and Competition: Sustainable products or services may face limited market
demand or stiff competition from conventional alternatives. Educating consumers about the
benefits of sustainability and differentiating products or services from competitors are crucial
for market success.
Supply Chain Management: Ensuring sustainability throughout the supply chain can be
complex, especially for enterprises with global operations or complex supply networks.
Sustainable social enterprises need robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track their
impact effectively and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders.
Resource Efficiency and Waste Management: Sustainable social enterprises must minimize
resource consumption and waste generation in their operations.
Social Impact Measurement and Evaluation: Measuring and evaluating social impact can be
challenging due to the complexity of social issues and the long-term nature of social change.

Advantages
Positive Impact: One of the primary advantages of sustainable social enterprises is their ability
to create positive social and environmental impact. By integrating sustainability principles into
their business models, these enterprises address pressing issues such as poverty, inequality,
climate change, and environmental degradation, contributing to a more equitable and
sustainable world.
Innovation: Sustainable social enterprises often drive innovation by developing new products,
services, and business models that address unmet social or environmental needs. They leverage
creativity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to find novel solutions to complex challenges,
driving positive change in communities and industries.
Market Differentiation: Consumers, investors, and stakeholders increasingly prefer businesses
that demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental responsibility, giving these
enterprises a competitive advantage and enhancing their brand reputation and customer
loyalty.
Resilience and Longevity: Sustainable social enterprises tend to be more resilient and
adaptable to change due to their focus on long-term sustainability and impact. By prioritizing
resilience over short-term profits, these enterprises are better equipped to navigate economic
downturns, market fluctuations, and other disruptions while continuing to pursue their mission
effectively.

The Idea of a Sustainable Social Enterprises

Advantages

Employee Engagement and Satisfaction: Employees of sustainable social enterprises often feel
a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction in their work, knowing that they are contributing to
meaningful social and environmental goals. This can lead to higher levels of employee
engagement, motivation, and retention, as well as enhanced productivity and innovation within
the organization.

Access to Funding and Investment: Sustainable social enterprises may have access to a broader
range of funding and investment opportunities compared to traditional businesses. Impact
investors, philanthropic foundations, government grants, and social finance institutions are
increasingly interested in supporting enterprises that generate both financial returns and
positive social or environmental outcomes, providing a steady flow of capital to support their
growth and impact.

Good Governance and Code of Ethics

Concepts of Good Governance

The concept of good governance has become a buzzword around the world in recent
times. Currently the term governance has become synonymous to sound development
management. In the mid-1980s, the term governance only emphasizes on strict adherence to
the rule of law. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the conclusion of the Cold War, governance
as a word has been used to mean the reinventing of public administration, mostly on those
developing counties that are open to the needs of globalization.

Good governance in its generic approach is the efficient, transparent and equitable
delivery of goods and services as well as the. policy-making by means of exercising authority.
Good governance is a normative principle that offers well-managed and well-allocated
resources to provide the needs to the collective problems of people.

Good governance as a principle denotes an approach in administration that could be

applied in internal operations of both public and private sector organizations. Good governance
is receptive to the present and future needs of the organization.

Basic Elements

Mainly, good governance is a way of systematic governing established in justice and

peace with the intention of safeguarding rights and freedom of every member of the society.
The assurance of minimized corruptions, the accounted views of the minorities and the
protected rights of the most vulnerable in society are all considered in good governance.

Rule of Law

 Good governance requires the rule of law. Rule of law is the protection of human rights
and civil liberties particularly those of minorities by the independent, unbiased and
principled law enforcement agencies.
 In the context of rule of law, the absence of governance in a country may give rise to
political instability and widespread corruption that could have severe consequences on
the investment climate.

Transparency

Good governance requires transparency of the decision-making process to make certain

that information is easily and freely obtainable to those who will be affected by such decisions
as well as the outcomes resulting by the decisions taken. This information should be provided in
an accurate and easily understandable forms normally interpreted through the media so that
readers get a complete view of the issues. In addition, any decisions taken and their
implementation must be in obedience with recognized rules and regulations.
Responsiveness

 Responsiveness is a requirement in good governance. Responsiveness simply means that

organizations and their processes need to be planned in a manner that serves the best
interests of all stakeholders within a practical and realistic period of time.
 Responsiveness is the combination of two inseparable elements which are value and
speed. Value is any information in the form of questions, data, insights, research,
context, case studies and so on that a company can offer, and that allows its buyer n
moving closer to making a decision. Speed, apparently, is the time it takes to give the
demanded information to a customer.

Consensus Oriented

Good governance requires knowing the broad consensus about the best interest of the
entire stakeholder group and how this can be achieved in a practical way. Reaching this
consensus means seeking the many different needs, perspectives, and expectations of a
diverse of people. Making decision through consensus manner allows a group to produce a
solution greater than any one member could reach alone. The consensus process
necessitates commitment and patience, but the resulting decisions are better, more
effective and, in the long term, more time efficient.

Equity and Inclusiveness

 Equity and inclusiveness is based on the idea that all members of an organization or
society must feel the sense of belongingness and must not have the impression of
being excluded from the typical group. Those individuals and groups that are the
most vulnerable must also feel the same and should have opportunities to improve
or maintain their well-being.
 Effectiveness and efficiency is vital in good governance. It is developed by making
sustainable use of resources to create advantageous results to meet the needs of its
stakeholders. Sustainability means guaranteeing social investments are carried
through and protecting natural environment, human and ecological health for future
generations while driving innovation and not compromising people’s way of life.

Accountability

Accountability is a key requisite of good governance. Institutions such as government

agencies, civil society, and the private sector ought to be accountable to one another as well
as to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable for whatever
decisions or actions should be documented in policy statements. Generally, an organization
is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions whether they are
internal or external to an organization. Accountability also extends to the applicable rules of
law which could be violated in the course of the implementation of the decisions or actions.
Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency too.

Participation
 Participation in good governance requires equal participation by all groups with
everyone having a role in the process of decision. making, either directly or through legitimate
representatives. In participation everyone must be informed and organized. It consists of the
freedom of association and expression. In general, it needs attentive concern for the best
interests of the organization and society especially for those most weak and helpless.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Drivers of CSR

The idea of CSR is to encourage and support accountability to all

stakeholders not just the shareholders and investors. These days and possibly may
continue in the future, the issues on environmental protection as well as the
wellbeing of employees, the community and the society are the main concern.
The business model of CSR considers that companies are not isolated economic
entities and must operate in connection with the society beside competitiveness,
survival and profitability which are the traditional views.

Some of the drivers pushing business towards CSR include:

1. The shrinking role of government — The government had usually

depended on legislation on the provision of social and environmental
services in businesses. However, the distrust in the implementation of
various regulations and the insufficiency of government resources directed
businesses to explore on “soft intervention” instead that it is voluntary and
not directly structured and regulated.
2. Demands for greater disclosure - There is an increasing demand for
disclosure coming from all stakeholders who consist of customers,
suppliers, employees, local communities, investors, media and pressure
groups.
3. Increased customer interest - How a company conducts itself ethically may
influence the buying decisions of customers. Most consumers either prize
or penalize companies depending on how they perceived the performance
of the company.
4. Growing investor pressure — These days investors often decide on the
evaluation of companies’ performance based on criteria that embrace
ethical concerns. Investors also look into account ethical considerations
when buying and selling stocks.
5. Competitive labor markets — Gone are the days that employees are only
looking at paychecks and benefits. Today, employees are also after how
match their own principles with that of the employers’ philosophies and
operating practices. Hence, employers are compelled to improve their
working conditions when hiring and retaining valuable employees.
 6. Supplier relations — Nowadays, most stakeholders are more and more
interested in the affairs of businesses. With this situation, companies are
making certain that even their partners are also conduct themselves
ethically and socially responsible. The trend now is to present codes of
conduct for their suppliers, which would guarantee a good image once
these policies or practices would be followed.

Historical Phases
 The practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has had an extensive and
widespread history. A sizable body of literature about CSR could be found mostly from
the twentieth century particularly in developed countries, the majority of which from
the United States (US). ‘Europe later was also captivated with CSR as manifested by a lot
of formal writings, research, conferences, and consultancies usually from the works of
scholars and practitioners. Countries in Asia also joined the bandwagon and started to
become interested to CSR policies and practices.
 An early practice of CSR could be exemplified on how businessmen were concern about
social causes. Some businesses spend money for community causes such as contributing
funds to an orphan asylum and giving gifts to charities which were recorded as
Miscellaneous Expenses in the company’s accounts. Other issues such as urban decline,
racial discrimination, and pollution problems were added to the lists of CSR concerns.
These examples proved that CSR has been a practice for a long time but only became
popular in the past fifty years.

At present, CSR could already be regarded as a global phenomenon. In recent years,

volunteering has become another important initiative in CSR especially in international
businesses. Labor standards, environment, human rights, and fighting bribery - later were
added as CSR applications. Now, it has been clear that without the moral and business
components of CSR, no company could be able to attain its corporate success.

Unorganized CSR (1960s to 1970s) In this dates, the effects of US colonization were still
being felt by the Philippines. Businesses were purely involved in charity and donations. The
declaration of the Martial Law in 1972 under the Marcos administration placed the country into
severe economic crisis. Political disorder, societal chaos and the continued existence of the
business itself were threatened during this period. Consequently, in order to combat there
threats numerous businesses and other organizations coordinated and shared their labors and
struggles through CSR programs.

In 1971, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) was organized by 50
Philippine corporations as the largest corporate social development foundation in the
Philippines. It was the first in Asia to lead the promotion and practice of corporate social
responsibility (CSR). Member companies of PBSP allocate a certain percentage of their profits to
development projects on education, health, livelihood and the environment. Filipino
businessmen set aside 1% of their companies’ net income before taxes for poverty reduction
programs. These companies include San Miguel Corporation, Shell Companies in the Philippines,
United Laboratories, SGV and Company, Soriano Group and others.

This period was characterized by restrictions and lack of know-how but with PBSP, the
CSR managed to evolve. Projects under PBSP have given assistance to powerless farmers,
fishermen, countryside workers, underprivileged urban people and ethnic cultural communities
in the Philippines.

Organized Philanthropy (1980s to1990s) The Philippine government ‘implemented new

and many policies about deregulation, decentralization and liberalization during this period of
organized philanthropy. In effect, with those policies foreign investment increased and the
existing private sector was influenced. It was in this period that numerous foundations were put
up such as ShoeMart Foundation (1983), Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines (1986), Roxas
Foundation (1987), Sarmiento Foundation (1988) and the rest. Corporate social responsibility
programs were also adopted by other companies through Community Relations.

Later in the 1990s, Area Resource Management (ARM) was developed by PBSP in order
to more organize CSR strategy. The intention of ARM is to connect with other partners in the
private sector for capacity building. Truly, any investment in CSR is now becoming strategic that
toughens the relations amongst the participants.

Organized Movement (2000 and continues until present) From the year 2000 and -until
present, the organized movement is still in existence. Globalization was the great influence in
the spread of CSR worldwide. The interdependence of business competition and community
health became popular as “shared value” in the field of CSR. This kind of drive was endorsed by
the League of Corporate Foundation (LCF) in the Philippines. The league was founded in 1991
with the purpose of promoting and enhancing CSR among its network of over 80 of the largest
operating and grant making corporate foundations and corporations in the Philippines.

For more than two decades now, LCF still lead the business sector in expanding interest
in corporate philanthropy, CSR, and commitment to nation building. Members of LCF
collaborate in educational projects and initiatives ever since its foundation until these days
through their committees on Arts and Culture, Education, Enterprise Development,
Environment, and Health.

Ethical Issues and Problems

Employee Favoritism

Sometimes, some business owners may enjoy working with people more than others.
However, it is unethical for a leader in the workplace to display favoritism to anyone of the
company’s employee without any reason for such. Favoritism means preferring a person not
because he is doing the best job but rather because of some irrelevant feature-membership in a
preferred group, personal likes and dislikes, and other unessential factors. Playing favorites may
result to businesses losing their valued employees.

Favoritism is quite debatable about its legality. Basically, there is no law that prevents
favoritism. However, if the reason for favoritism came from discrimination, harassment, or
retaliation then it becomes now illegal and unethical. If workplace favoritism is based on
protected characteristics, then it is illegal discrimination. Simply, an employer should not look
down on women, seniors, disabled and those from other races in making job decisions.

Some types of favoritism in the workplace:

1. Nepotism
 It is the practice of hiring family members irrespective of their qualifications. Although in
some instances, a relative of a company executive may be qualified to perform the job
for which he is hired. When businesses hire unqualified family members, nepotism
becomes counter-productive. This lack of qualifications and ability would lead to
ineffectiveness and inefficiency.

2. Cronyism
It is the act of hiring friends without regard to qualifications. Employees, who got their
entitlement for a job using cronyism, feel that they deserve raises and promotions more
than those who are qualified. Cronyism usually generates conflict in the workplace and
can result in losing competent and eligible personnel.
3. Patronage
This is the practice of hiring the friends and family members of those executives who
became on board because of either nepotism or cronyism. This type of favoritism is
contagious as the executive brings more of her favorite employees into positions of
authority.

Health and Safety

A healthy workplace is paramount to the success and productivity of a business.

Therefore, the working environment should remain healthy to all people. Features of
ventilation, appropriate lighting, roomy stations, hygienic workstations and temperature control
need to be employed. Safety is also a key to a successful business. Occupational accidents and
diseases cause human suffering and loss. Their economic cost is high.

Unsafe working conditions are a threat to everyone, and they can occur in any
environment. They can often be classified as ergonomic hazards, chemical hazards, or biological
hazards, although not all dangers in the workplace fall under those categories.

1. Ergonomic Hazards — Ergonomic hazards are related to the way a person’s job strains his
body. Sometimes it is the type of work being done, such as work that requires an employee to
use repetitive or awkward motions, or to lift things frequently; other times, it has to do with the
body positions and the work environment, such as bad lighting or an inappropriately adjusted
workstation.

2. Chemical Hazards — Chemical hazards are present any time an employee is exposed to any
chemical preparation in the workplace, whether it is a solid, liquid, or gas. Chemicals can consist
of cleaning products and solvents, vapors and fumes, and flammable materials. They can also
comprise carbon monoxide, gasoline, and asbestos.

3. Biological Hazards — Biological hazards are those that come from working with people,
plants, or animals. Blood and bodily fluids, bacteria and viruses, and even insect bites can be
considered biological hazards. So can animal and bird droppings.

On its part, the company Enron lost $25 billion and resulted in 85,000 jobs lost. The
accounting dishonesty affected the price of Enron’s stock and a lot of its stockholders lost big
quantities of money due to such ethical violation. Enron on the other hand, eroded the trust of
its stockholders and the tompany’s reputation. Enron had produced the most tragic victim in the
person of its former vice chairman who committed suicide, seemingly in connection with his
part in the scandal.
 With these corporate scandal involving unethical accounting practices, a lot of
consumers have started to distrust making business investment. Hence, accountants and
financial advisers should always be ethical in writing financial reports to the government as well
as to the investors.

Incorrect Accounting

It is a mandate that businesses should at all times maintain precise and truthful
bookkeeping records. Conducting unethical accounting practices is a very grave offense
particularly in publicly listed companies. ‘Although, it is also greatly important for small privately
owned companies to keep their financial records correct for purposes of taxation, profit sharing
and investments. Accounting records that were deceived look healthy on the surface yet the
company is really in deep financial problem. Generally speaking, most businesses consider
incorrect accounting reporting as the most unethical issue being faced by the business world.

A good example of this unethical practice is Enron, an American energy company which
became popular because of its scandalous Story of bankruptcy in 2001. The company for years
inaccurately reported its financial statements but its accounting firm counterpart still signed off
despite knowing the status of these reports. When the truth came out, Enron and its
independent accounting company went out of business.

Developing Good Works Ethics

The 5C’s Model of Work

Work is the reasonable use of an individual’s mental and bodily powers for the purpose
of monetary gain or profit. The reality is that everyone spends the better part of their lives
working. However, of course, each working experience is unique for each individual.

In order to understand more deeply the meaning of work for Filipinos a survey was
made by the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development. The research made
use of 1,040 employees from various companies in the Metro Manila. The result of the survey
yield that there are five ways Filipino workers view their work. Filipino workers view their job as
a calling, cause, career, chore and coast as discussed below.

Calling implies work is motivated by a lofty, nonmaterial goal. Workers who consider
their work as a calling define their work as motivating and rewarding and feel highly energizing
and satisfied in what they do. Work for these people is something that is gratifying, challenges
their abilities, offers learning and growth, and makes people feel that they are making a big
difference, Remarkably, half of workers define their work as a calling.

Those who consider their work as a career label their work as stimulating, fun, exciting
and inspiring. What differentiates this group from calling are the external rewards derived from
work, such as money to support family, career advancement, and a chance to develop
friendships with co-workers.

On the other hand, those who view their work as a cause feel that their work is an
obligation or duty, a heavy burden and not at all times pleasant or enjoyable. Those who
identify their work as cause define their work mainly as tedious, discouraging, also repetitive
and unrewarding.
 Chore is work that one feels forced to do for the lone purpose of earning a living or in
exchange for other tangible outcomes. Work is regarded as something unpleasant, non-
engaging, boring and difficult. It is done mainly because of necessity. Such sentiments may be
relieved by the recognition that the work is a source of numerous tangible outcomes, such as
money to support the family, and one’s lifestyle, the opportunity to make friends, and obtain
status and a boosted image. Less than 4 percent of the respondents feel their work is a chore.

Coast is when work is not of main importance to one’s life. Nine percent of the sample is
in this mode. It generates no intense feelings, negative or positive, and may be experienced as
reasonable, sometimes inspiring, other times dull, sometimes gratifying. Not unexpectedly,
most of the respondents who “coast” are in their 20s. For young employees, landing a job may
be dictated not by a careful choice, but more of a need to get started. Coasting looks more
expected to be among the younger workers who are still in search of their preferred occupation.

Theological Meaning

Every man is created based on His own likeness and characteristics as written in Genesis
1:26-31. In addition, He created men to work with Him in the world. In Genesis 2:8-15 when
God the Garden of Eden, He mandated Adam and Eve to cultivate and maintain besides were to
subdue and rule over the earth.

This original work commanded by God to Adam and Eve is meaningful. Adam and Eve
should cultivate the garden to nurture growth and to improve. They need to maintain the
garden in order to be preserved from failure or decline. They need to exercise control and
discipline or subdue. Essentially to rule is to oversee, take responsibility for, and make decisions.
This command relates to all vocations. During the 15th-century Reformation, leaders considered
an occupation as a ministry before God. Therefore, jobs have to be recognized as ministries. At
the same time, workplaces ought to be considered as mission fields.

Love, purpose and significance are said to be the three basic needs in life. In a lot of
times, people try to find purpose and significance in work itself. Solomon details his quest for
significance in a variety of projects and works of all kinds as revealed in Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. For
Solomon, work brought some point of satisfaction in accomplishment. However, he still
concluded that, “yet when | surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to
achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the
sun.”

There are actually a lot of people truly desire to work despite economic downturns but
sometimes cannot find employment. Some Filipinos have become generational welfare
beneficiaries, desiring to continue on the government dole out. There has been a lot of
argument concerning the unemployed, uninsured, and uneducated in the society whether they
need to become the responsibilities and obligations of the country. Even the Bible harshly
condemns those who are lazy as seen in Proverbs 18:9. In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul clearly explained
to Christians about work ethics by saying, “if anyone does not provide for his own, and
especially those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever”.

Work Ethics

There are numerous definitions of work ethics. In simple term, work ethics is a set of
moral principles that an employee uses in the performance of his job. In business language,
work ethics is “the belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to
strengthen character.” Work ethics basically is how a person feels about his job which covers his
attitude and behavior. It also concerns on how a person does his job or the responsibilities that
has been attached with it. The level of respect shown to each other m the workplace, the
people around and how individuals communicate and interact also explains work ethics.

Christian Work Ethics

Humility and the treatment of others are the two fundamental work ethics under the
Christian viewpoint. Being humble at all times is humility, no task is too belittling. Servitude or
placing other people’s need before one’s own is a component of humility. The Golden Rule
dictates to treat others with decency and respect. Loving one’s neighbors and even enemies are
part of the treatment of others. Simply, it means giving value and worth to all people that
surrounds a person.

Factors Demonstrating Strong Work Ethics

All companies need strong work ethics to accomplish their goals. Every employee, from
the top executives to the entry level employees, must have a good work ethics to keep the
company operational at its peak. A work ethics is a set of moral principles an employee uses in
his job. Certain factors must be considered when creating a strong work ethics such as discussed
below.

1. Integrity

Acting with integrity, in this context, also means behaving in a consistent manner. Integrity
covers every aspect of an employee’s job. It is seen as one of the most important ingredients of
trust. It consists of how an employee inspires trusting relationships with customers, co-workers
and supervisors. Customers will surely trust the advices of the employee. In addition, co-
workers shall give importance to the employee’s ability to contribute honest feedback. Further,
supervisors would depend on employee’s high moral standards, trusting him not to cheat the
company or make problems.

2. Sense of responsibility

The moment a person became part of a company and assigned tasks and duties, he has a
responsibility that he must accomplish. An employee with a strong sense of responsibility shows
how he works and the amount and quality of work that he does. A person with sense of
responsibility is always punctual, he places his best foot forward all the time and completes any
task using the best of his ability.

3. Professionalism

Professionalism covers almost a lot from appearance to how a person conducts himself in front
of the public. Being determined, productive, focused on quality, and easy to work with are some
related benefits of being professional. - A professional appears neat and tidy and always ready
for his job. Such professional gives the impression of being respectable and likewise treat others
with respect.

4. Emphasis on quality

Employees with strong work ethics care much about the quality of their works. They put
enormous effort in order to produce very good results. These people show dedication and
commitment to improve the quality of the company’s overall productivity. They are willing to go
the extra mile for the sake of getting results that surpass expectations.
 5. Discipline

Discipline involves focusing on goal, dedication and determination. It is something that comes
from within. It needs a high degree of commitment to complete the assigned task daily.

6. Sense of teamwork

An employee is part of an organization. Simply, he is part of a whole and thus need to work with
other people to achieve organizational objectives. An employee with a great sense of teamwork
helps a team attain its goals and provide quality work. This employee respects their peers and
helps making collaborations go smoother. A cooperative spirit is always part of a strong work
ethics.

COMMON GOOD VS. GREATEST GOOD

The common good is the principle that whatever serves the most members in a
community is considered good. The common good is usually whatever rules or actions are
required to reduce the disharmony in the community. While, the greatest good is the principle
that there is a standard that people must cooperatively strive for to maximize the harmony in
the community. Provided that the common good is mostly good, people are contented and
engaged in society and committed to stay the same. The greatest good is the higher order of
good. It can be used for good purposes to address areas where the common good is not
inclusive of groups of people.

Serving the common and greatest good requires individuals to think beyond themselves.
Serving the common good is to think of other individual people as well as oneself and
the greatest good to think of other groups of people to whom the individual is not a
member and creating a balance, a harmony, between and within.

To not serve either the common or greatest good, is to serve oneself or ones’ group
narrow interest, usually at the expense of other people and groups. This gives the
greatest dangers and threats to the whole of the society.

CODES OF RIGHT CONDUCT

Every organization must have a code of right conduct. A code has value just like an
internal guideline and an external statement of corporate values and commitments.

A well-written code of conduct spells out an organization’s mission, values and

principles, connecting them with standards of professional conduct. Simply speaking the code
defines preferred behavior. The code expresses the values the organization desires to promote
in leaders and employees.

In addition, code is a fundamental guide and reference for employees to support

everyday decision making. It pushes discussions of ethics and obedience, it also provides as a
helpful reference, assisting employees trace pertinent documents, services and other resources
connected to ethics in the organization.
 The company’s code of right conduct talks about the company. It tells a story about
what the company believes and cares about, what it is truly committed to and the way it can be
expected to act. For this reason, a company should pay close attention to the story it is telling
through its code. The best of codes serves as strategic communication that effectively conveys a
company’s commitment to ac responsibly and accept accountability for doing so.

A code is a statement of shared values that prescribed for right action. A good code, like
a good moral theory, should encompass internal consistency. A code is analogous to moral
theory of behavior in that equally they are concern on proper conduct of behavior.
Simultaneously, a moral code should leave room for analysis.

 Code has value just like an internal guideline and an external statement of corporate
values and commitments.
 spells out an organization’s mission, values and principles, connecting them with
standards of professional conduct.
 expresses the value the organizations desire to promote in leaders and employees.
 simply defines preferred behavior.
 it is a fundamental guide and reference for employees to support everyday decision
making
 pushes discussions of ethics and obedience, authorizing employees to manage ethical
problems they come across in daily work.
 can also provide as a helpful reference, assisting employees trace pertinent documents,
services and other resources.
 It tells a story about what the company believes and cares about, what it is truly
committed to and the way it can be expected to act.
 a shared of values that prescribed for right action.

There are two types of moral theory namely consequentialist and non-consequentialist.
Consequentialist focuses on the outcomes of actions, settling on whether or not an action is
good by knowing the result. Utilitarianism is a common theory under this kind. “The greatest
good for the greatest number,” is a familiar phrase that shows this attitude.

Non-consequentialist centers on the principle that an action is good based on the

principle people follow and regardless of the results of the action. Deontological means duty or
obligation from the Greek word “deontos”. A phrase that shows the attitude using this
approach is “People have an obligation to respect the rights of the individual.”

There is a third approach to defining right action which is called virtue theory. Here, one
decides that “the right to do” is based on the idea of how a virtuous person would behave in
such situation.
 The fourth approach that of care ethics, is unusual. Here, instead of intellectual analysis,
right action consists of feeling from the heart. This simply means that what makes an action is
how greatly the action will increase the network of caring relationships.