Business Ethics in Communication
Business ethics is a subject that varies greatly from one business to another regarding how it is interpreted and executed by businesses. In some cases, what seems ethical in a given business may not be the case in another and this also extends to the employees. Each business should understand that it is important to communicate it ethical stance to all employees. The employees should act ethically as well as understand the ethical stance of the firm where they work. This paper addresses the role that ethics plays in communication within a business entity. The paper will also examine the people (sources) and ways messages were received (channel) that affect how workers learned about ethics.
Introduction
Ethics in service delivery is seen as crucial aspects for anyone who wants to prosper in his career within the shortest time possible. An ethical conception is important for people who want to conduct positive reputations towards their firm (Stefan, 2014). Law firms should operate to ensure no conflict arises in the society concerning the inheritance of property. Lawyers should inform their clients about the possible consequences they are likely to face in case they make a mistake when writing their will. Currently, anyone wishing to prosper in the service industry should ensure that he discloses all relevant information to clients.
Summary of news or articles
The article “Ethics Forum: Questions and Answers on Professional Responsibility” by Stretton is about to extend should lawyers be involved in the drafting of will for their clients. There might be a conflict of interest in case the lawyers place his or her interest above that of their client. The lawyer is not supposed to give himself a gift while drafting a will. Before obtaining the client’s informed consent, the lawyer should communicate clearly the nature and extent of his financial interest in being appointed as beneficiary as well as the availability of another person who would suit the position. The lawyer should always insist that family members be named as the executor unless there some family wrangles (Stretton, 2018). The client should be in a position to explain to other children why he chose one kid over the others. Choosing a family member is more logical as compared to the lawyer. In most cases, a family member knows better what the client wants to do with his property hence he can handle the situation better. After drafting the will, the lawyer can hold the will but it is ethical for the lawyer to ensure the client holds the original will. The client is perfectly able to keep and safeguard the original will where everybody knows where it is placed. In case the lawyer is the custodian of the original will, he must have some certain obligation placed on him such as informing the client any changes in tax law or estate law (Stretton, 2018). The regular communication between the lawyer and the client enables them to make better business decisions.
Impact of Ethics in Communication
In business dealing, the lawyers should demonstrate a high level of ethical behavior in both verbal and non-verbal forms. Management of the law company should reinforce ethical behavior as a way of ensuring other employees behaviors in an ethical manner. As senior counsel, one should realize that they are role models in the business hence they should act ethically to ensure they build positive reputations for their firms.
The relevance of the content of ethics and communication
The content guide professional especially lawyers how they should conduct their business dealings to ensure they do not lose their client and even attract more customers. The information found in the article will assist the customers to understand how to communicate with their stakeholders involved in the business deals. Communicating in an ethical manner will facilitate ensure that lawyers and their client conduct their business without much conflicts that would lead to loss of business among them (Sims, 2017). The lawyer should inform the client the importance of communicating with his close family members to ensure no conflict ensues in the long run.
Consequences or impact to the subject society
The society should realize the best practice that is involved when dealing with real estate clients. The society should be informed the about any deal involving the signing of a contract that will cost their family. Involving their close family members in signing such a deal is crucial as they will be able to curb any conflict in future (Christians, 2011). According to the lawyer, all policies and rules should be followed to ensure no financial burden is laid to the client in future. The lawyer has to inform the person is written as most preferred heir. But the lawyer should not be the first person to be written as this might lead to conflicts within the family members.
Importance of Ethics in Business
Employees should be able to understand ethical practices consider to acceptable within their organization. Ethical behavior enables workers to communicate on daily as making the organization to attain its goal leading to a number of benefits. First, it promotes a positive corporate culture through developing policies and procedures that foster ethical actions (Leonard, 2018). Employees’ morale improves when they feel protected against retribution for personal beliefs. In some organizations, employees are rewards for their exceptional ethical actions or conduct. Second, an organization that has high ethical standards increases consumer confidence as conduct their business deals in a way that will ensure they retain consumer loyalty. In most cases, ethical conducts practices manifest itself in the fair and honest advertisement as well as the whole sales process. The company should train its workers to ensure they treat their clients according to its basic values. Lastly, a business that conducts its deal in an ethical manner reduces its financial liabilities. In case a company does not conduct its business deals in an ethical manner it risks losing its customers or reducing its sales. Companies should always ensure they conduct their business dealing in environmentally responsible ways to ensure they keep on growing and expanding. Also, a company that does not conducts its business risk losing a number of significant amount of money through lawsuits. Employees or clients who claim to be facing discrimination may cost a cost significant money. For examples, many companies have lost a fortune through workers who claim to be facing sexual discrimination in the workplace (Leonard, 2018). The company human resources managers and CEOs should deal appropriately with any form of accusation and harassment claims from the employees.
Discussion
Lawyers have the responsibility of informing their clients about any changes in the law that affects their clients. In the case above, the lawyer has to inform the client about change in policy and laws that will affect any person who has invested heavily in real estate. In case, the client is too old to understand the ongoing changes, the person who has been written as an heir should the initiative of implementing the changes to ensure they conform to the new laws. According to the article, the client was informed about all basic policies that he or she know. The lawyer had to inform his client that he cannot be involved as heir unless there some internal wrangles involved among the families members. The client has to be informed about how to go along selecting his heir to avoid any conflict among the siblings or any other family members. The people involved should be informed about the criteria that used in selecting the person written as heir, otherwise, conflict may arise.
The implication of lesson learned
When dealing with real estate, the interest of the client should be given first priority. As lawyer one should ensure the client makes an informed decision that should be sealed through writing for future references. It is not good for a lawyer or his firm to be named as the executor. The client should be given all necessary facilitates to seek clarification from independent counsel in order to make an informed decision. The lawyer can hold the will but it is important to ensure that the original copy is with the client while a photocopy of the same is with the lawyer. This strategy ensures that the will is in the safe hands and clarification can be gotten from both clients as well as the lawyer. The lawyer has the responsibility of informing the client to keep the will at a safe place as a way of creating a positive reputation for his firm and ensure family members know where it is placed (Hard to Build, Easy to Destroy, 2018). The client can be informed to keep the will in a safe deposit box or in the drawer in the desk used by the client. Additionally, the client is supposed to disclose to the family members where he has placed the will. Family members should know where the will is placed to ensure in case of anything they can access it and use it to settle any dispute. It is crucial for the lawyer to ensure there is an informed communication between all membered involved in writing the will or they are being affected by the will.
Conclusion
Lawyers have the responsibility of ensuring they conduct their activities in an ethical way by disclosing all the necessary informing to ensure the client is able to make the right decision. Writing a will can lead to various conflicts among the family members in case the client is denied some crucial information before writing down the will. The lawyer should have all the relevant information that will ensure that no conflict will arise in future. Conducting business deals in an ethical manner to increase trust between the client and his lawyer. In the end, the lawyer will be able to grow his firm as more clients will be attracted to his services. Lawyers should ensure they communicate with their clients well as this will create positive reputations to their firms. Honest lawyers have a higher possibility of prospering as all people like best services as they refer to their friends to seek services from the same firm.
References
Christians, C. G. (2011). Primordial issues in communication ethics. The handbook of global communication and media ethics, 1-19.
Hard to build, easy to destroy: managing reputation risk. (2018). Financier worldwide magazine. Retrieved from https://www.financierworldwide.com/hard-to-build-easy-to-destroy-managing-reputation-risk/#.WtxEZdRubDe
Leonard, K. (2018). The importance of ethics in organizations. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-ethics-organizations-20925.html
Sims, R. (2017). A contemporary look at business ethics. New York: NY. The information age publishing Inc.
Stefan, P. (2014). Ethics and communication in management. Scientific papers series. 14(3), 1-8.
Stretton, S. (2018). Ethics forum: Questions and answers on professional responsibility. Retrieved from https://www.law.com/thelegalintelligencer/2018/04/19/ethics-forum-questions-and-answers-on-professional-responsibility-25/
