Ethikos Editor’s Weekly Picks: Integrity is the Best Policy and What We Need Today

By Jeff Davidson for AccountingWEB
No one, accounting professionals included, lives a life of absolute integrity. Rather, it is an ideal for which to strive, including those who consistently display integrity can be overwhelmed by what is left over — what wasn’t acted upon and what wasn’t met with integrity. Read more

By Melinda Rizzo for Lehigh Valley Business 
Similar values, integrity and the ability to embrace a company’s culture are important elements for a contented crew and happy captain.

Being part of the company culture doesn’t happen overnight and can’t be learned exclusively from an employee manual, said Jim Boscov, chairman and CEO of Boscov’s Department Store LLC, based in Exeter Township. Read more

By James Svara for Governing
In his commentary “Managing the Evil That Institutions Do” in the May issue of Governing, Publisher Mark Funkhouser drew welcome attention to the fundamental ethical responsibility that leaders of public organizations have to prevent harm and correct abuses of power, as expressed so forcefully in the Google mantra “Don’t be evil.” The importance of that principle cannot be overstated. But in addition to preventing and punishing unethical behavior, it is also important to promote ethical behavior to advance the good that public institutions can and should do. Read more

By Robert Zafft for The Business Journals
In years past, good manners and common sense meant not discussing politics or religion at work. Three things have changed. Many people now consider virtually any topic “political.” Second, many people believe that unlawful discrimination/harassment should include unconscious behaviors and “micro-aggressions,” with regulations, policies, and expectations adjusting accordingly. Third, internet search and social media have broken down the work/personal divide while feeding gossip and defamation.

Businesses with numerous owners — and their employees — should remember that for them, diversity, tolerance, and inclusion represent means to an end. The goal of a company like Google should be maximizing shareholder value while complying with the law and commercial custom.

In this regard, of course, corporate reputation is also critical to success and involves doing more than the bare minimum. Businesses want to be viewed as upstanding and helpful members of the community. In addition, rational employers want to attract and keep valuable workers by recognizing, nurturing, and rewarding talent. Discrimination and harassment do the opposite. Read more