Ethical Issues in the Business and Corporate World

DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Defamation – the act of saying false things in order to make people have a bad opinion of someone or something.
2. Discreet – not likely to be seen or noticed by many people.
3. Embellish – to make (something) more appealing or attractive.
4. Extramarital Affairs – of, relating to, or being sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her spouse.
5. Fiduciary – involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary.
6. Fluctuation – an irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation.
7. Indexation – is technique to adjust income payments by means of a price index, in order to maintain the purchasing power of the public after inflation.
8. Inflation - defined as a sustained increase in the general level of prices for goods and services.
9. Jeopardize – to put (something or someone) into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure.
10. Leering – look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious or, lascivious way.
11. Legitimate – conforming to the law or to rules.
12. Moonlighting - have a second job in addition to one's regular employment.
13. Peddle – to deal out or seek to disseminate; to offer or promote as valuable.
14. Pestering – trouble or annoy (someone) with frequent or persistent requests or interruptions.
15. Regulation – a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.
16. Retaliation – to do something bad to someone who has hurt you or treated you badly; to get revenge against someone.
17. Sexual harassment – uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature especially by a person in authority toward a subordinate (as an employee or student).
18. Unscrupulous – having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
19. Vying – to compete with others in an attempt to get or win something.
20. Wolf-whistle - whistle to express admiration.

ETHICAL ISSUES

Business is a productive human activity that brings beneficial contribution to both people and society. It produces employment, fair deals, creativity, advancement of technology, customers’ satisfaction, among others. However, it’s also an activity that provides an opportunity for some unscrupulous people to take advantage of others.

Problems, situations, or opportunities requiring and individual to choose among actions that may be evaluated as right, wrong, ethical, or unethical. Often deal with what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad, and what rights and responsibilities people should have.