Inquiry into Shell Company’s Code of Ethics
PHL 323 – Introduction to Business Ethics
Christine Morrow
September 9, 2012
Sabrina Hunter
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Inquiry into Shell Company’s Code of Ethics
Intended Persons and Specific Purposes Shell Company Code of Ethics Was Intended For
Intended Purposes
This particular company’s code of ethics was created for a couple of very specific reasons, and is intended to be adhered by specific individuals that are actually listed by position or job title in the document itself. According
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The second new type of disclosure the Act states is “whether or not the company adopted a code of ethics that applies to principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions” (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2003).
This paper does not require information on the Sarbanes Oxley Act.
Listing Requirements for New York Stock Exchange
The next item the Shell Company Code of Ethics refers to is the listing requirements for the New York Stock Exchange. The listing requirements for the N.Y. Stock Exchange are as follows according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: “the initial listing requirements mandate that a company meet specified minimum thresholds for the number of publicly traded shares, total market value, stock price, and number of shareholders. After a company starts trading, it must continue to meet different standards set by the exchanges. Otherwise, the company can be delisted (2003). These brief descriptions of the two stated documents will help the reader better understand what specific purposes the Shell Company Code of Ethics were intended for. This paper does not require Listing Requirements for the NYSE.
Shell Company’s Ethical System
Virtue Ethical System For all informational purposes, I will start out by stating that Shell Company’s ethical system is one of virtue. According to the “University of Phoenix Material titled Introduction to
The role of ethics and social responsibility aids organizations in developing a strong strategic plan, while addressing the needs of stakeholders. Ethics and social responsibility require social awareness to address the needs of the environment and to increase the knowledge of employees, which will lead to a corporation focused on supplying the customer with what is needed, managers equipped with solid decision-making abilities, and employees who believe that he or she are an asset to the business. It is the executive manager’s responsibility to establish a clear vision for the corporation and place a specific focus on understanding stakeholder’s needs. In an effort to support
Our Code of Ethics Program is designed to uphold the interests of every stakeholder of Given Company. Our mission is to uphold a high level of integrity by maintaining high company standards, values and principles to ensure the company meets its mission of being a good corporate citizen who is socially responsible. Our program provides effective guidance for daily decision making for all levels of personnel in an effort to establish and promote long-term relationships within Given Company and with our customers and community. The overall goal of the program is to be diligent in establishing a culture
Unfortunately, the creation of SOX and a code of ethics in no way guarantee’s that everyone will follow the rules; people will always find a way to circumvent the system or misrepresent the code’s intentions. Even the most robust ethics program needs constant oversight to remain effective. The pressure to increase profits and market share can lead executives to push the boundaries of ethical business behavior. Despite the passage of SOX, some of the largest and most well-established companies are currently crossing those boundaries.
Any employee who feels that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment should immediately contact the Human Resources Department for investigation and corrective action. Protection from retaliation will be provided and confidentiality will be provided as much as reasonably possible. Any employee who witnesses someone engaging in what could be deemed as sexually harassing conduct is obligated to notify the Human Resources Department even if the victim says that they can handle it or that they can take care of it themselves. Sexual harassment is an illegal act and must be reported and investigated just like any other illegal activity.
To ensure that they withhold the highest of ethics and standards, United HealthCare Corporation has published their “Code of Conduct” handbook on their website. For example, UnitedHealth Group is committed to the integrity of its records, books and financial reporting. Employees are responsible for ensuring that all books, records and accounting are accurate and complete and accurately reflect the actual transaction or event recorded. The Senior Financial Officers and individuals who assist them in the disclosure processes must be familiar with and comply with all controls and procedures that ensure that public reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission meet the Company’s obligations under U.S. securities laws and rules. United HealthCare Corp made this decision because they want their employees, investors, and stakeholders etc., to trust them. This is a good ethical decision because by having such strict integrity when it comes to financial reporting; it protects not only the company, but the employees of any type of ethical dilemmas and/or wrong doing because of the company’s decision to remain
Each company should have a code of ethics and I think their code of ethics should be in plain view or easy for associates to locate. This is important because employees should know what is most important to each company as far as their ethics are considered. Associates are always trained how to do the physical aspects of their job. However many associates are not aware of what their company’s ethical and social responsibilities are. Having a code of conduct makes employees more aware and accountable of how they should behave and conduct themselves as representatives of their organization. If a
I want to start off on some history about the Code of Ethics and how they got started. According to Sheryl Hopkins, in 1991, corporate America began to develop codes of ethics and related ethics and compliance programs to comply with the newly enacted Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations (FSGO). The FSGO had some requirements for businesses, one of the requirements were to have a “high level” person with overall responsibility for the program and an individual with day to day responsibility who periodically reports to high level management. (Hopkins). While Shannon Filing is the president and owner of the business she does not report to anyone in particular, but she said to me “While I don’t have anyone to report to, I have mentors
“Analytically, a corporation’s code of ethics is the documented, formal, and legal manifestation of that organization’s expectations of ethical behaviors by its employees” (Adelstein & Clegg, 2016, p. 55). The corporate credos and code of conducts provide employees with an understanding of the policies of the organization and the organizational ethical position. For these codes to be effective, all employees of the organization must be aware of them. The visibility of the code of conduct that enables the organization to be judged as ethical.
Ethical issues have greatly transformed in our lives since the great Enron, Xerox and other huge corporations proposed big profits showing earnings of billions of dollars and yet in reality facing bankruptcy. These corporations faced great trouble with the federals and state for manipulating financial statements. But not only corporations can be blamed on this, accounting firms were involved in this as much as the corporations were. With the business stand point, ethics comprises of principles and standards that guide behavior. Investors, traders, customers, and legal system determine whether a specific action is ethical or unethical. Ethical issue is a vast subject, but we will look at the niche
Every organization also has a profession responsibility to conduct business honestly and ethically. Our readings reported, “Experts estimated that U.S. companies lose about $600 billion a year from unethical and criminal behavior” Kinicki and Kreitner (2009). The organization could avoid having ethical issues by meeting the
In order to operate ethically in a global marketplace, corporations like Exxon Mobil need to define the conduct that they expect from their officers, executives, managers and employees. Without a defined code of conduct, employees feel forced to use their personal mores to determine what actions they should take in ethically ambiguous situations. Like children on a playground, employees need to know where the fences are so that they can work effectively.
The purpose of this paper is to examine an ethical dilemma faced by a company who manufactures critical components for a pacemaker developer. The consequentialist ethical theory of utilitarianism will be used to evaluate the moral implications this company has in continuing further manufacturing for their pacemaker client. An overview of utilitarian ethics will be discussed, focused primarily around 17th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham’s ideas about ethics. His framework will be used to present factors that influence the transistor company’s business decision. Finally, the Utility Test and Common Good Test will be applied to the company’s predicament to help determine the correct ethical course of action for this
The CEO and all senior financial officers also have an additional code of ethics. They are responsible for full, accurate, and timely disclosure in reports required to be filed by the SEC. Each member is also required to report any material untrue fact that comes to their attention or any deficiency in the design/operation of internal controls. Each member must report any violation of their code of ethics or any violation of other laws, rules, or regulations (Walmart 9). This additional codes of ethics is important because it holds all of the executives accountable for their actions. This should aid in preventing fraudulent reporting by management because this code can be cited when looking at disciplinary action.
Traits associated to a psychopath include irresponsibility, manipulation, grandioseness, lack of empathy, asocial tendencies, inability to feel remorse, refusal to take responsibility for one's actions and superficial relations with others. Modern day corporations display every one of the previously listed characteristics. Is it right that an institution, whose power now rivals that of the State that once created it to seek the better welfare of its citizens, display the psychological traits of a dangerous personality disorder? Many say no: there is a rising discomfort with the corporation and its pervasion into every sphere of human life and it is this uneasiness that has prompted many academics to further study the corporation and its
It seems like business morals and ethics are being whisked to the side in lieu of the ever growing demand of higher stock prices, rising budget goals and investor profits. Despite the increased regulation of corporations through legislation, such as, Sarbanes-Oxley, some corporations still find themselves struggling to maintain ethics and codes of conduct within the workplace. In reviewing the failings of the Enron Scandal, one can heed the mistakes that both individual and organization malaise, such as, conflicts of interest, lack of true transparency and the sever lack of moral courage from the government, executive board, senior management and others, contributed to the energy giant’s downfall.