Globalization Over the Last Several

Globalization Over the last several decades, globalization has been highlighting a host of ethical issues that a wide variety of multinational corporations (MNCs) are facing. Where, they want to be able to maximize their profits as much as possible, yet the various tools and tactics they use to achieve this objective, brings into question different ethical principles. One area where this can be seen is in the duration of the work week. With an increasing number of employees, working longer hours for the same amount of compensation.

This is problematic, because when employees begin to work an extended amount of hours, is when the underlying levels of stress will begin to increase. Once this takes place, it is only a matter of time until productivity can decline. A good example of this can be seen with a study that was conducted by Wyatt and Watson. Where, they found, that the majority of employers, (48%) agreed that longer hours are contributing to reduced amounts of productivity.

However, when you look beyond this number, only 5% of employers have some kind of program designed to help reduced stress. Commenting about these results the National Practice Director from Wyatt Watson (Shelly Wolf) said, "Too much stress from heavy demands, poorly defined priorities and little on-the-job flexibility can add to health issues.

By leaving stress unaddressed, employers invite an increase in unscheduled time off, absence rates and health care costs -- all of which hurt a company's bottom line." ("Few Employers Addressing Workplace Stress," 2008) This is significant, because it shows how all employers must wrestle with host of different ethical issues, as part of their business. To fully understand the overall impact of ethical issues on various employers requires: examining the underlying causes and how various ethical practices (through a code of ethics) can help to resolve these issues.

Together, these different elements will provide the greatest insights, as how the different ethical issues are affecting the workplace. At the heart of the overall issue of ethics is: the levels of controversy surrounding working hours within the culture of the organization. Where, the way many executives / managers view employee dedication and working hours, will have an impact upon the staff. This is because employees are encouraged, to go the extra mile for the company.

In many cases, this will mean that they are consistently working longer hours, as executives will use this as a way, to determine the underlying amounts of dedication and passion that an individual posses. When in reality, they should be looking measureable parameters to determine if the organization is meeting its objectives. This is problematic, because having employees working longer hours will increase short-term profitability. Yet, over the long-term it will have a dramatic impact upon productivity.

Once this occurs, is when an organization will face a number of ethical challenges, as they want to maintain healthy profit margins and are forced to push employees to work even more hours. At which point, it is only a matter of time until productivity levels will decline. The best way to establish ethical practices in various host countries is to create an ethical code, based upon cultural traditions and the ethical standards of the company.

This is where you are taking the ethical standards of the organization and are augmenting them, with the values of the country. Once this take place, you would then create an ethical code, to serve as a basic foundation for various moral business practices. At which point, you would conduct consistent ethical audits, to determine how the staff is responding to the different ethical challenges that they will face.

Over the course of time, this strategy will help to create an effective code of ethics that is tailored to each country a company has operations in. ("Ethical Issues in Business," 2010) A good example of this can be seen with the World Tourism Code of Ethics. This establishes, nine basic principles that all countries, engaging in various forms of tourism will follow. As the implementation and introduction of this code, has meant that a worldwide standard is followed for acceptable business practices in the tourism industry.

At which point, the way businesses and their employees interact with travelers will be the same around the world, helping to contribute to consistent long-term growth. ("The.