Can You Look Your Children In The Eye When It Comes to Business Ethics?

Business and government corruption are well-known problems. Stop short of immortality. You might be publicly shamed and sent to jail if you do this.

Once upon a time, I was stuffed into the backseat of the family car with my friend and his sister by his father. We went on an extended city tour and stopped for ice cream and sweets. For us kids, that was a huge deal. The father of a buddy of mine passed away today.

In the mountains of the American West, my dad worked as the city auditor. His bookkeepers and auditors occasionally uncovered inconsistencies. My grandfather had been warned about the consequences of being detected embezzling. When his friend’s father committed suicide, he hoped no one else would follow suit. At times, he was even successful in stopping a suicide attempt. Sometimes he was unable to do so. For other people, no amount of punishment could ever erase their shame. They end their own lives by doing so.

Still, far too many people choose death through suicide as an escape. In contrast, most people turn their backs on the judge.

Even in small-town Idaho, people are reported in the news to have stolen money from public and private treasuries. Some get slapped on the wrist, while others go to jail. A personal and family catastrophe has befallen each victim.

The vast majority of people do not steal on purpose. A cashier realizes she needs to get some cash to buy her child a birthday present. She “borrows” ten dollars from the petty cash drawer. After depositing her paycheck the following Monday, she replaces it. That’s something she keeps doing over and over.

Then, one day, she stopped repaying the stolen funds (her loan).

Soon enough, she begins to view the jar as a cash machine. To conceal her theft, she begins juggling the volumes.

And then she’s discovered.

The books show that she stole $12,000, according to the accountants.

She had not anticipated such a large sum.

She says she’ll repay it all once she gets her first paycheck. She was fired and is now facing charges. She is given a monetary penalty and sentenced to three years in the state’s women’s prison.

She doesn’t commit suicide, at least.

Some of our great representatives, who should be ideals of honesty and fair play, instead accept token gifts from special-interest groups. Then, they join him on a fishing excursion to Canada. After that, the lobbyist contributes to the lawmaker’s philanthropic trust or campaign account. The congressman will have a large nest egg upon leaving office. Home is where the charity is.

Even after attending the best universities in the country, some successful businessmen have no morality. They’re after authority and wealth. They are compensated handsomely and given stock options and bizarre perks. They are a financial drain on the company, preventing the stockholders from realizing a fair return on their investment. They slashed worker benefits and emptied the company’s retirement account. People refer to these guys as crooks.

They use complex accounting techniques to steal from the company. They report inflated profits to increase the stock price and cash in on their stock options. They use business funds for vacations. Some employees are known to use business funds to buy non-work-related products. Suppliers can expect them to receive gifts.

This person lacks any sense of decency.

What should I do about these worthless people who don’t even respect themselves? We need them to be apprehended so the law can deal with them.

My focus is on assisting people with a solid moral foundation. The ones raised by parents who knew how to instill good values in their children. Those who strive to always act ethically in every situation.

What about these ideas?

The wrongdoing of your friends does not permit you to engage in the same behavior. (Congress, are you there?) If they try to sleep with you, politely decline their advances. You can teach them right from wrong when you rise through the ranks, and they don’t. If your integrity is holding you back at work, it’s time to look for a new position. Inform your lawyer of your reasons for leaving the company.

If you were a Boy Scout, you should periodically recite the Scout Oath to remind yourself to avoid engaging with anything that could lead to your corruption. Remember what your mom taught you if you weren’t a Boy Scout. (You Scouts take care of this by themselves.) It’s essential to remember the lessons you learned in school and at church. Give a reading of the Ten Commandments. If this sequence seems reasonable to you, then go ahead and follow it.

Third, instill integrity in your offspring. Set a trustworthy example for them. Avoid redefining honesty to serve your agenda. Don’t let avarice (either yours or your wife’s) control you. Consider whether you are setting an excellent example for your kid when you pick them up.

At one organization where I worked, we were always instructed to cover the cost of samples and keep the supplier in the dark about their intended use. Another company suggested we occasionally take suppliers to lunch rather than having them foot the tab every time. The more integrated your suppliers are with your company, the more power they will have over you. Avoid giving presents and overindulging by maintaining some distance.

5. Hang up an inspiring quote or image in your workplace. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching; I read the motto at my friend’s office. To keep yourself honest, as you hang up a picture, you may tell yourself, “I’m hanging this picture here to remind me to be honest in everything I do.”

CEOs should urge that the Board be more frugal and put the interests of investors first if they are offered excessive compensation, stock options, insurance, and other perks. Ask yourself if your family needs more stuff or if you already have all you could ever desire before deciding you want a massive estate like the other CEOs who are ripping off the workers and stockholders.

When you retire, donate any extra money or assets to a good cause or return them to the company. Don’t give your kids everything they want. Please don’t give them anything save what they require.

Ask yourself, “Am I being honest with myself right now?” as you gaze in the mirror.

Stopping Here

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com), is a former editor of an international engineering magazine and a retired college professor and business executive. Visit his site for more information on Wealthy Affiliate University. Visit the store if you need a flagpole to raise the Stars and Stripes pridefully.

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