Ethics are a system of knowing right and wrong, and feeling that your actions taken fall into one category or the other.
Sometimes the thin line between right and wrong is a bit hazy. In the corporate world ethics is known as business ethics. As defined by Crystal (2010), “Business ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world. ” (para. 1).
Business ethics also relate to the organization, their employees, and the surrounding community. Therefore, the ethics of each business may differ from that of another business, depending on the demographics of those involved.In the mid 1990’s, the parent company of Saks 5th Avenue, Saks Incorporated, revamped a sexual harassment policy in their corporate policies and procedures. This policy was not amended and announced to the corporate population in a matter of days, it was a long and careful process, to make sure the policy was in the best interest of all involved. Once the policy was approved at the corporate level, it was distributed to the satellite offices, including the one in NJ.
The policy was handed to all employees by the Human Resources (HR) manager on-site, and via notes within paychecks.Also, extensive trainings within the site, ran by the HR manger, included all employees as a requirement. This institution of the new sexual harassment policy did not stop all cases of harassment within the workplace, for this site and the corporation. However, it most likely did make a majority of the employees re-think some of their own actions taken on a daily basis. Customer relations are so important to the welfare of a business; good customer service could be the tie that binds a company with their clients.
One factor that could negatively impact a Clinical Research Organization (CRO) is breaking privacy policies.The CRO named PPD works with some of the top names of pharmaceuticals in the industry. The employees at PPD receive constant and multiple trainings, throughout the year, on privacy laws. The largest privacy law affecting all CRO’s in the industry is the Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191.
(US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). This law not only keeps the employees of PPD from sharing information about the pharmaceutical clients and the results of the clinical trials; but also the privacy of all patients enrolled in the clinical trails.PPD’s employees receive regular training via an online training tool, and instructor led training when necessary. Despite all the best training, mistakes still occur that potentially leak vital information.
When this happens, the cause is determined and the solutions are put in place. Details are then shared with the organization, so that others may learn from the mistakes of others. In the NJ satellite office of PPD, many employees have the ability to telecommute. This allows employees to work from home or a remote location. The potential problems with telecommuting are honesty and dependability.
An employee could say that they are logged into the system, and working on their tasks. However, they are in actuality not working at all, or abusing the convenience of telecommuting to handle tasks of a personal nature that should be handled on personal time. This system is monitored through the information technology and HR departments, along with direct line supervisors. If the business is large enough to have separate departments; the management will include the legal, public relations, and human resources departments in the collaboration of the ethics for the company.The depending on the structure of the business, the employees, customers, and community will be notified of the ethical policies via the best way possible.
This may include, but not be limited to, a corporate website, intra-company emails, and or trainings. This paper shows just three examples of how two companies handled business ethics within their organization. Ultimately, the power to choose between right and wrong is within the employee themselves.Referenceshttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-ethics.htmhttp://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html
