The human rights issue has been the subject of many studies and complaints among organizations and governments. In international business, human rights is also a relevant topic that needs to be addressed properly because of man’s complex needs and opinions. We regard our rights differently. We look at things not exactly the same as other people of different nationalities. But our concept of human rights is almost universal – that each and every human being has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In business, it has become complicated, and the reason for this business has always been complicated.
Christians base their concept and regard for human rights from the Bible, from the New Testament, a record of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, Himself a victim of human rights. He was tried and sentenced outright. But in business, human rights can take many forms. Human rights also refer to the ethics and social responsibility of a business organization. Ethics and social responsibility are two concepts that work together; a company that supports both socially acceptable moral philosophies and individuals who act ethically is likely to make decisions that have a positive impact on society.
One way to evaluate whether a specific behavior is ethical and socially responsible is to ask other people in an organization if they approve of it. For social responsibility issues, contact with concerned consumer groups and industry or government regulatory groups may be helpful. Checking to see if there is a specific company policy about the activity may also resolve the issue. If an activity is within the bounds of what is good and moral, then it is ethical and can be said to be promoting social responsibility.
A rule of thumb for ethical and social responsibility issues is that if they can withstand open discussion and result in agreements or limited debate, an acceptable solution may exist. Still, even after a final decision is reached, different viewpoints on the issue may remain. Openness is not the complete solution to the ethics problem, but it does create trust and facilitate learning relationships.
In business, there is what we call marketing ethics which are moral principles that define right and wrong behavior in marketing. Most marketing decisions can be judged as ethical or unethical. Ethics are a very important concern in marketing decisions, yet they may be one of the most misunderstood and controversial concepts in marketing.
Personal moral philosophies, organizational factors, and opportunity are three important components of ethical decision-making. Moral philosophies are principles or rules that individuals use to determine the right way to behave. They provide guidelines for resolving conflicts and ensuring mutual benefits for all members of society. Ethical formalism philosophies focus on general rules for guiding behavior and on the rights of the individual.
One example of an ethical issue in business that has gained much attention in the international circle is the greening of the environment. Green marketing promotes products that do not harm the environment. These are products whose wastes are recyclable.
An independent coalition of environmentalists, scientists, and marketers is one group involved in evaluating products to assess their environmental impact, determining marketers’ commitment to the environment, and producing reading materials for the greening of the environment. For consumers, this has been a confusing time, as they are faced with an array of products making a variety of environmental claims.
The business world has to take responsibility for the excessive use of fossil fuels and coal gas emissions. In the cities and countryside, businesses and people are now to look beyond their borders and see what has been going on – pollution, the deterioration of the environment, climate change, and so forth. The organization’s focus is on external environments and how to deal with those forces in order for the organization to triumph in the competition and acquire more profits.
In the 21st century, concepts and theories on organizations have become more complex and wider in scope. The global company needs the support of all its stakeholders to survive in the competition. What was perceived as mere ideas before have now come out a reality – the so-called climate change and global warming. The business world has to take responsibility for the excessive use of fossil fuels and coal gas emissions.
In the cities and countryside, businesses and people are now to look beyond their borders and see what has been going on – pollution, the deterioration of the environment, climate change, and so forth. The organization’s focus is on external environments and how to deal with those forces in order for the organization to triumph in the competition and acquire more profits. Global organizations are more focused on systems and practices.
Stakeholders and staff are enticed to commit to change so that everyone becomes involved. The organizational setup is still vertical, restricting power and decision on the top while involving CEOs in their corporate social responsibility and the care for the environment. Organizations are global, huge, with challenges that surpass beyond local borders.
The employees are urged to focus beyond their capabilities, to be innovative and creative. CEOs depend much on the abilities of their employees, but they continue to be the sole decision-makers.
However, there is still sex discrimination. Sex discrimination is problematic for working women. Many remain mired in lower-level positions in most large companies, and because of this, women executives and employees will continue to be discontented with their work.
Sexual harassments continue. They can be in the form of blatant, subtle, and covert sexual harassment. Women encounter obstacles to job advancement. Discriminatory workplace policies and practices adversely affect older women, women of color, pregnant women, and women with children, as does discriminatory conduct at all points of the employment relationship. There are also the disparities between the compensation paid to women and men that substantiate the continued discrimination against women.
