Modern Day Ethics in the Non-Profit Workplace

Modern Day Ethics in the Non-Profit Workplace

Kevin W

BUS 610

Dr.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Table of Contents

Modern Day Ethics in the Non-Profit Workplace 1

Table of Contents 2

Modern Day Ethics in the Non-Profit Workplace 3

The Ethical Dilemma 3

Conclusion 6

References 7

Modern Day Ethics in the Non-Profit Workplace

What exactly is ethics? Is there a difference between ethics at home and ethics in the workplace? Is there any difference between ethics in non-profit businesses versus regular “for profit” businesses? Ethics are the moral standard that judge behavior. Often when people think of ethics, the Golden Rule is thought of (Lovetoknow.com). Business ethics is the values that govern actions and decisions within a company. Basically, it is to know the difference between right and wrong and deciding to do that which is right. The term “business ethics” can be used to describe an entire company just as well as describing the actions of one individual (Lovetoknow.com).

Why are ethical issues a major concern in organizations? If for no other reason, ever since the Enron scandal, ethics in business has become law since the SEC passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Lovetoknow.com). Another good reason is the fact that between 5 different CEO’s a total of 84 years is being spent in prison. Their prison terms range from eight to twenty five years (Knicki p 23 2009). That is a high price to pay for choosing to do that which is not right.

The Ethical Dilemma

People who run non–profit organizations are a different sort of people, cut from a different cloth. They are the guys in the “white hats”, the “Dudley Do-Right’s” of the business world, uncorrupted by money and the desire for profit. There are a couple principles that help to guide the non-profit organization; treat your donors, executives, employees, volunteers, and clients with the respect you would like shown to you and your family, and not even one person is to...