Ethics, Personal And Business

Great topic ED, prigz alluded to it . I think this generation needs parenting guides not just biological to guide the younger generations in the paths we have all ready traveled . The basics tenant you will be faced with difficult choices . The question is how will you know what is right or what is wrong. That is where the code is important. I still maintain we know instinctively what that is.>>>

Pirating and meandering are completely allowed. For, to have a diverse and open discussion, there should not be any restraints applied.

Errr, unless that goes against anyones Ethics, LOL.

I only have time to address one, but realy two points that Paul has made.

Some organizations with Steel Plated Codes Of Ethics and only to slightly touch on religion, so this does not drift too much into a completely Religious debate.

Lets take an unnamed, lets say, Contractors Organization who espouses Ethics. Is it ethical for the organization to lambaste all/most of their non-affiliated competition, by innuendo, that they are to be watched carefully and more highly scrutinized?

Is an emblem or Seal Of Approval on their affiliates websites, depicting them as Recommended or Referred or Approved in any such general terms justifiable, thereby passing hidden judgment against those not bearing these designations?

Is just the "Pledge" to a Code of Ethics any assurance that they will hold themselves higher than the rest of the non-approved, or should I say, non-paying members who decided to not belong n such an organization?

What then, makes a true and earnest dedication to that pledge to the Code? Who determines if it is followed and are there any repercussions if not?

What of any Religious group, who proclaims that there actions are sanctified by there righteous affiliation with the "Correct" Religion?

Are those that charge less than another contractor more or less ethical than the most profitable priced contractor? Or, are they naive and lost?

Are contractors who charge higher for trained on staff workers more ethical then? Are they right and justified to do so?

Since we are all contractors and price becomes a big criteria on how we are judged, does that state that the highest priced contractor is charging elicitly and dishonestly?

Or, is the contractor who uses uninsured, (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) subcontractors more of a cancer on the overall image?

But those contractors are able to provide a more affordable roofing contracting experience to their customers, so based on the pricing aspect, they are very good guys in the home owners eyes, aren't they?

Is it wrong for a salesman to know the ropes on how to ask properly and steer a client into agreeing with their roof system, by knowing that qualifying objections lead to an eventual Yes, to the contract, or should they let go and allow another contractor to scoop up the sale after they leave?

A bit too much rambling for one post, so I will shut up now.

Ed

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Hi Ed,

Some of the most unethical organizations I have come across have a wonderful "code of ethics" featured on their sales materials and web sites. They say one thing, do something comepelely different. It can be somewhat refreshing to meet a company that you know is going to take advantage of the situation, and it doesn't pretend to do/be anything else. You may not like what they are doing, but at least they are honest about it.

I'm also sure you know people who say all the right things, but screw anyone they can get their sorry mits on.

In my opinion, the only ethics worth anything, are the ones one demonstrates through action. And those ethics are the ones where someone does the right thing, not the (take your pick) expedient/convenient/advantageous-to-you/gets-me-off-the-hook thing. But our whole culture is about escaping responsibility and accountability for our actions. In school we see "situational" ethics where Mom and Dad are OK with their kids' cheating because it gets them "further ahead" and "in this dog-eat-dog world, you do what you gotta do". Some branches of our organized religions have bent so far backward in helping people avoid feeling bad about their actions, that they have in effect given full and complete absolution to ANY action a "church-goes" may do.

You can't really discuss ethics of contractors or consumers or insurance companies, without putting those in context of the society in which each operates. Bluntly put, we have a "code-of-ethics", which Christians and Jews call the Ten Commandments. How many of our christian or jewish betheren actually follow them? I'd say, very few if any (and I include my imperfect self in that lot). I'm not sure what the Hindus, Muslims, Buddists, atheists and other religions use as their "code of conduct", but I'm sure few adherents come anywhere close to respecting most of them. Legislating ethics through a "code of conduct" is not more effective than legislating any form of human behaviour. We always find a reason to bypass it, avoid it, ignore it, etc., if we find that doing the prescribed thing (ie, the "right" thing) is inconvenient to us.

To answer your last question, I think the answer is in each of our hands. WE can choose to behave ethically, or not. If by our example others are inspired to do the same, then great. If not, we make the choice of living the way we believe we should, as opposed to living in a way forced on us by others. I know what my choice is.>>>

I find it better to start in a place that defines what are appartenly not ethical standards . It allows the discussion to form around the idea not platitudes . So here goes . Just a few Violating laws or regulations enacted by a government whose authority has been established by law. Now this begs another question . If it is legal does that make it ethical or moral ? Is willfully misrepresenting or concealing a material fact in business if it is an insurance or contracting , or any business dealing.. in violation of a duty or obligation unethical. Why would aiding and abetting in the performance of any unethical practice be a problem ? Is it unethical to breach the confidential relationship with a client or with his principal. How would you handle it if it was illegal but still ethical in with your ethics or morality ? I'll stop here for now . I hope I didn't pirate your thread ED ?

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