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How to Hire a Digital Marketing Agency: 3 Easy Steps to Help you Find the Right Agency
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Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – ethical problems in business. It’s a topic that makes most people squirm, but we need to face it head-on. Because, let’s be honest, unethical practices are holding businesses back from reaching their full potential.
The statistics about ethical issues in business appear to be factual based on the search results:
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of the most common ethical problems businesses face today.
A staggering 80% of employees have experienced discrimination while working remotely, according to a study by AllVoices. Discrimination and harassment can occur through various digital means like video conferences, chat apps, and phone calls, not just in physical offices. These toxic behaviours should never be tolerated, regardless of whether they are intentional or not.
Publicly traded companies may engage in unethical accounting to appear more profitable than they are. One infamous example is the Enron scandal in 2001, where the company inaccurately reported its financials for years, leading to its downfall and $25 billion in shareholder losses. Rogue accountants might also change records for personal gain. These practices can result in massive fines and reputational damage for businesses.
In 2019, 183 Australian workers tragically lost their lives due to work-related injuries, according to Safe Work Australia. While fatalities have decreased since 2007, even one death is too many. Businesses have a responsibility to prioritize employee health and safety, both physical and psychological. Cutting corners to save costs or time is unacceptable when it comes to worker well-being.
Data privacy violations and tech abuse are becoming more common ethical issues with advancements in technology. Examples include using company devices for personal matters and selling customer data. 66% of companies monitor internet activity, 45% track keystrokes and time spent on keyboards, and 43% review computer files and emails. Businesses must have clear policies preventing tech misuse and protecting sensitive information.
A well-designed code of ethics is essential for establishing acceptable behaviour and ethical decision-making guidelines. It should:
It is crucial to consistently enforce the code of ethics. All employees, regardless of position, must be held accountable to the same ethical standards. Leadership needs to set the tone by modelling ethical behaviour themselves.
Offering ethics training on a regular basis, not just when onboarding new hires, helps ingrain the company’s ethical standards into the culture. Effective training should:
Employees need a safe, confidential channel to report suspected ethical violations without fear of retaliation. An effective reporting system should:
Building a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion helps prevent discrimination and harassment. Ways to foster an inclusive culture include:
Ultimately, employees take their cues from leadership when it comes to ethics. Managers and executives must consistently exemplify the ethical standards they expect from their teams. It includes:
Ethical problems in business are real, and they’re not going away anytime soon. But by facing them head-on, developing clear guidelines, and fostering a culture of integrity, we can create businesses that succeed and positively impact the world.
It’s time to kick unethical practices to the curb and build businesses we can be proud of.
Who’s with me?
Ignoring ethical problems can lead to legal consequences, financial losses, and irreparable damage to your reputation. It’s not worth the risk.
If an action or decision makes you feel uneasy, chances are it’s unethical. Trust your gut and refer to your company’s code of ethics for guidance.
Speak up! Report the incident through your company’s anonymous reporting system or talk to a trusted manager. Remaining silent only allows unethical behaviour to continue.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.