An Analysis of Workplace EthicsIntroduction to EthicsEthics can be defined as "a domain in its own right, a set of concepts and principles that guide us in determining what behavior helps or harms sentient creatures" (Anziano and Paolo, 2003). In today's society it is becoming natural to question the relevance of ethics. Contestants on reality television shows are rewarded with sums of up to $1,000,000 for activities such as lying, cheating, backstabbing, and otherwise gaming. In the midst of downsizing, mergers and acquisitions, is it fair to hold American companies to a high set of standards while they simply try to stay alive? Recent ethical catastrophes like those at Enron and WorldCom make it clear that, now more than ever, companies must rely on solid ethical foundations if they want to succeed and retain quality employees. Employees today are ethically challenged every day. (Thomson Gale, 2005) states "...the pressures of working life clearly test the personal morality of all individuals, at all levels of the organisation. One in five of those interviewed said they felt at least sometimes constrained by colleagues or managers to compromise the organization's standards of ethical business conduct in order to achieve company objectives." As employees, we should not, however, automatically assume that a questionable request is unethical. As noted by Amanda Gengler, "Nearly 10% of employees who felt they had been asked to do something unethical ultimately determined that their boss's request was appropriate." (Gengler, 2006). Make sure you know all the facts before making a decision. The concepts of ethical principles in the workplace are generally not complex. However, some ethical questions require “reasoned judgment” to determine a definitive answer. This fact is illustrated by the following quote: "Some ethical questions have definitive answers; others require reasoned judgment. When we reason about an ethical question, we must determine whether it is simple or complex." (Elder and Paul, 2003). Whether a company is considering how to treat its employees, create its products, serve its customers, or participate in the community, ethical answers all revolve around doing the "right thing" rather than what might be the right thing . more profitable or convenient in the short term. Simply put, this means treating employees fairly, producing a safe, quality product, and striving to continually improve customer service. Most companies successfully apply these concepts when the ethical response is clear. We don't steal from our employees.