According to the explanation found online, ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a discipline of philosophy that primarily explores moral values. In daily life, we adjust our behavior according to the social standards of ethics, such as giving up seats to elders. However, in the business world, the standards of ethics may differ from those in personal life. For instance, the standard for giving up seats may shift from the elderly to those of higher status. Today, let’s discuss ethics within the office.

There was once I had a conversation with subordinates to understand the issues they were facing. One of them raised the issue of fairness, arguing that some colleagues who have high capabilities only received more missions at work, which was unfair to them. After listening to his concerns, my opinion was that it is precisely this kind of unfairness that provides faster promotion opportunities and more resources to those with high capabilities.

Fairness is very important to people. When we encounter unfair treatment, we are likely to get angry. Therefore, the general measures of a company are based on fairness. However, the fairness provided by companies is actually different from the definition of fairness in society. The fairness provided by companies should be fair opportunities, not the fair distribution advocated by modern society. Companies value productivity, which means contributing to the company’s profits. Staff with higher productivity will naturally gain greater rights within the company.

A company is an authoritarian organization, and even the most enlightened companies are authoritarian. Making employees feel treated fairly is just a management means, not the goal. Therefore, supervisors and managers should consider whether the goals can be achieved, rather than whether they are fair. So we cannot reverse causality, we cannot give up goals because of means.

If employees pursue fairness, it is recommended to switch to companies with similar factory production models or become self-employed because true fair distribution is impossible in new intelligent service companies. Companies provide different salary levels for different employees. However, subjective judgments by supervisors are inevitable, and complete fairness is impossible. Although companies are unfair, they have a free rule. As long as both parties agree, employees can join any other enterprise, choose to quit, or even build another authoritarian system. I believe this kind of freedom is an important part of business ethics.

General universal values may not be reflected in companies, replaced by business ethics, which vary in each sector. For example, if a doctor refuses to treat an emergency patient because they haven’t received payment, it violates medical ethics. This situation does not apply in a grocery store. If the clerk asks a customer who is eager to eat a snack to pay first before opening the snack packing, we would not consider it as a moral issue.

Modern businesses are required to take on more social responsibility. However, the fact is, even if companies do good deeds, they consider what good deeds to do from a business perspective, such as for the return of charity work or to fulfill the expectations of target customers. Perhaps we don’t need to pay attention to the motives for doing good deeds, but the essence of business pursuing profit remains unchanged. This is the means by which companies use their limitations to enhance their brands and promote their businesses.

For ordinary companies, making money is necessary, just like humans need to eat. Companies that do not make money will find it difficult to survive. Ensuring the continuous profitability of a company is best for employees. Nowadays, companies tend to lay off employees rather than choosing collective salary reductions, also for the sake of sustaining the company. Choosing collective salary reductions may cause competitive employees to leave, which may further reduce profitability. Conversely, although layoffs may cause some employees to become unemployed, it can keep the company fluid, eliminate the weak, and retain the strong, which is a better choice for the majority. Therefore, it is precisely because of various injustices that companies can survive normally.

Simon So

Chief Experience Officer of Hantec Group