Introduction
 Definition
of Business Ethics and CSR
 Why should companies behave ethically?
 Difficulties faced by companies to act
ethically
 Initiatives to help companies to have an
ethical behaviour
 Cases of unethical and ethical companies
Business ethics
Business ethics refers to:
 Principles and standards that guide business
behaviour
 What is wrong or right, unacceptable and
acceptable
Business Ethics
Ethics of conduct
Ethics of character
Corporate Social Responsibility

The obligation a company has towards the
society

Limitation of negative impact of the
company’s activities on society and
maximisation of the benefits for the society

Economic, legal, ethical and social
responsibility
Stakeholders theory
Supplier
Shareholder
Customer
Firm
Employee
Environment
Government
Local
community
Business ethics and CSR issues
These ethical challenges concern both
domestic and international companies:
Human rights
Labour Issues
Bribery/Corruption
Environmental protection
Reasons why companies should behave
ethically:

To keep a good reputation and avoid bad
publicity

Companies that behave ethically tend to make
profits

Rise of ethical consumers and investors
(Ex: Consumption of Fair Trade products)

Companies have responsibilities towards its
stakeholders!
Difficulties that companies are facing
to behave ethically

The link between culture and ethics

Which code of behaviour should adopt the
companies?

No concert penalties
Initiatives to help companies to
adopt an ethical behaviour
 Code
of ethics (code of conduct),
there are different levels:
-Corporate level (related to a
single organization)
-Professional level (related to
medecine, law etc…)
-Industry level
Group Code of conduct

International set of principles that
provide a framework and foundation for
the development of individual company’s
codes

Examples of Group codes:
 The Sullivan Principles
 The Caux Principles
 The United Nations Global Compact
Cases of unethical and ethical
companies : Nike and Sodexo
Nike’s unethical practices

Refusal of Nike to fully compensate its
workers with fair wages in some factories

Unsafe and unsanitary work conditions in
some of its factories

Use of child labour around the world
Boycott of the brand and bad
publicity
Sodexo

French multinational coporation providing
food services with 380 000 employees
around the world

Among 2010 world’s most ethical
companies especially and awarded for its
diversity and inclusion policy regarding its
employees
Ethical principles and practices
of Sodexo

Respect for people

Transparency

Business Integrity

The fight against hunger with the
movement « STOP HUNGER
INITIATIVE » ( food donation, fundraising…)
How ethical are you?
You just printed a 200-page document
that used all the paper in the printer.
A. You refill the paper tray immediately.
B. You casually mention that the machine's
out of paper to people around you so they
know to refill it before they hit print.
C. Eh, they'll figure it out eventually.
Your boss hands you a stack of papers that
accidentally includes confidential
personnel files
A. Immediately return the files to the boss
once you recognize the mistake.
B. Search through the pages just to find
your own file.
C. Read everyone's files.
You find out your cubicle neighbor is having a
secret affair with the intern in accounting.
A. You pretend you know nothing about it.
B. You tell your closest work friends
because you know they won't tell anyone.
C. You tell anyone who will listen
You know the boss is in a terrible mood. You
also know your co-worker is about to go ask the
boss for a ridiculously large raise.
A. You quietly warn your colleague that the
boss is probably going to throw scissors at
him if he goes in there today.
B. You mind your own business because you
don't want to get involved.
C. You don't mention the boss' bad mood and
instead get your colleague fired up and
encourage him to triple the salary request.
The boss loves the ideas you pitched to
everyone and can't stop showering you with
accolades. The problem is, the ideas were a joint
effort between you and your colleague.
A. You say, "Thanks, but I didn't work alone.
Sheila worked just as hard as I did.“
B. You take the praise, and eventually tell
Sheila what happened and that you didn't
know how to tell the boss.
C. You accept the accolades and try to get
Sheila fired before she finds out you've stolen
the spotlight
It's 3 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving and
everyone is on vacation. The phone hasn't rung
once and no e-mails have come in.
A. You stay at your desk until 5 p.m.
because it's your job.
B. You wait 30 more minutes to make sure
nothing comes up, and then you leave.
C. Ha! You've been gone since noon.
Results
If you scored:
All A's -- You're the poster child for ethics.
Mostly A's -- You're not perfect, but you're still a role
model.
Mostly B's -- You've forgotten a few things your parents
taught you.
C's -- You're far from perfect but could be worse.
All C's -- You'd steal candy from a baby. And laugh about
it.