Business

Ethics
Ethical Dilemma, Whistle Blowing,
Code of Ethics

J. Oloba Z.
+256-785552288
 Ethical Dilemma

• a complex situation a person (business) faces in

which a decision must be made about the
adequate action to be taken (Harrison, 2005).
 The Six Ethical Dilemmas
Every Professional Faces

Dilemma 1: Worthwhile Work

Dilemma 2: Work vs. Family
Dilemma 3: Going Along With the Crowd
Dilemma 4: When Leaders Mislead
Dilemma 5: Being a Change Agent
Dilemma 6: Careers and the
Common Good
 Whistleblowing

• Whistleblowing is characterized as a
dissenting act of public accusation
against an organization which
necessitates being disloyal to that
organization
• (PB Jubb - 1999)
 Whistleblowing

• A whistleblower is a person, who

could be an employee of a company,
or a government agency, disclosing
information to the public or some
higher authority about any
wrongdoing, which could be in the
form of fraud, corruption, etc
• (The Economic Times, 2018)
 Whistleblowing

• A major UK trade association, the

Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), in a
Guidance Paper for its industry members,
sets out a whistleblowing definition as
“the raising of a concern, either within
the workplace or externally, about a
danger, risk, malpractice or wrongdoing
which affects others”.
 Whistleblowing

• A US organisation, Ethics Resource Center (ERC),

specialising in this field and conducting regular
surveys of business ethics, introduces the term
“reporter” to refer to employees who bring their
concerns to an internal source, and ascribes a
whistleblowing definition to a person who would
typically go outside the company because they
don’t trust the company to handle the issue
appropriately.
 Whistleblowing

• There are two types of whistleblowers: internal

and external.
• Internal whistleblowers are those who report the
misconduct, fraud, or indiscipline to senior
officers of the organisation such as Head Human
Resource or CEO.
• External whistleblowing is a term used when
whistleblowers report the wrongdoings to
people outside the organisation such as the
media, higher government officials, or police.
 Whistleblowing

You’re protected by law if you report any of the

following:
– a criminal offence, e.g. fraud
– someone’s health and safety is in danger
– risk or actual damage to the environment
– a miscarriage of justice
– the company is breaking the law, e.g. doesn’t have the
right insurance
– you believe someone is covering up wrongdoing
 Whistleblowing

• Personal grievances (eg bullying, harassment,

discrimination) aren’t covered by whistleblowing
law, unless your particular case is in the public
interest.
 Code of Ethics

• The Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional

Conduct (Code and Standards) are the ethical
benchmark for investment professionals around
the globe.
• (CFA Institute - Chartered Financial Analyst )

• Code of Ethics is a statement of basic values and

guiding principles embraced by members of the
organization
• (Academy of Neurologic Communication
Disorders and Science)
 10 Myths About Business Ethics
McNamara

1. Myth: Business ethics is more a matter of

religion than management.
2. Myth: Our employees are ethical so we don’t
need attention to business ethics.
3. Myth: Business ethics is a discipline best led by
philosophers, academics and theologians.
4. Myth: Business ethics is superfluous — it only
asserts the obvious: “do good!”
5. Myth: Business ethics is a matter of the good
guys preaching to the bad guys.
 10 Myths About Business Ethics
McNamara

6. Myth: Business ethics in the new policeperson

on the block.
7. Myth: Ethics can’t be managed.
8. Myth: Business ethics and social responsibility
are the same thing.
9. Myth: Our organization is not in trouble with
the law, so we’re ethical.
10.Myth: Managing ethics in the workplace has
little practical relevance.
Easy Life!